Belly Up to the Bar With Bendy and Her Friendies!!! Button Pics & New Thread Started!

[winkers]

cake! cake! ccccaaaaakkkkeeee!
I'm craving some now. I guess I'll have to settle for some ben & jerrys.

Brenda, I honestly don't know how anyone could be offended at your writing. So keep your witty comments coming!

 

[blissventure]

Brenda,
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your reviews and TR's. You make me smile, and more than once laugh out loud. They are just such fun. Keep 'em coming!! They are very much appreciated!!!

 

[TigerKat]

I'm so sorry about the problems with your nephew and his wife. I never read anything in your review that would have been disrespectful or anything toward them and I love your sense of humor! Did they never think of how many times they have hurt your feelings (not showing up, etc.)? We will love your review no matter how you post it this fall.

What she said!!!!

Loved your food porn Brenda, the pork loin looked amazing! But those cakes looked incredible!!!! Thanks so much for posting!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Brenda - Happy Anniversary, your dinner looked so good! Maybe the bakery said four pieces so people would order more then one cake? LOL.

I just got the funniest new cookbook yesterday, it's called Take This Dish and Twist it. The recipes seem really easy, but look really good. It's all comfort food with twists. Like a blue cheese stuffed chicken breast with a hot sauce, that I have to try.

 

[Me&3]

Brenda,
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your reviews and TR's. You make me smile, and more than once laugh out loud. They are just such fun. Keep 'em coming!! They are very much appreciated!!!

I couldn't agree more.

 

[oybolshoi]

Brenda
Sorry you didn't enjoy your dinner. But its amazing me that you could still make it sound good and also were able to have a few laughs.And I agree Wendys sure is a cureall for meals gone wrong. Charlene

Thanks for reading ... glad you enjoyed it. Things kept going from meh to bad to worse that we just couldn't help but laugh. And Wendys ... I loves me some Wendys (especially with a frosty which I did not order that night).

Brenda,

You were SO right.......your review of the Scottish Arms sounded yummy and tasty. The only problem is that I am now typing blind as I over worked my eyes trying to read that tiny light print and now can't see a thing!!! Good thing (or maybe not) I read the wine dinner review before I went blind. What a shame as the description of each dish sounded like the night would be a winner.

Be careful at Wendy's. I once had a salad that came with a bonus. Hidden in the middle of my salad was a laytex glove. So much for trying to eat healthy!

I'm sorry about the typeface ... it really stinks on that Scottish Arms entry, doesn't it? Thanks for reading, though ...

As for your Wendys story ... ugh ... ick ... blech!

British Columbia is a very beautiful province, and it's always good to hear it from visitors because when you live in a place you do take it for granted. I play the viola in VSO BTW. Bio and picture.

My god ... I'm exhausted just reading about everything you do. You are an incredible woman ... . What amazing accomplishments ... and now I feel both flattered that you enjoy the things I write and a little intimidated because you're someone who really knows what she's talking about.

I'm just a poser ... and a lazy one at that!

Just from that sentence I know your review is going to be hilarious. Those poor chefs! Did they know they had one of the best food writers and critics in the house?

Well, I don't know if it qualifies as hilarious but we did have a good time making fun of everything that night. I can't recall the last time we attended something like this only to have it fall apart layer by layer as the evening progressed.

And thanks for the compliment. It's funny that you should say that because the one "big," for lack of a better word, food-related publisher here in town didn't want anything to do with me because I don't take food seriously enough in the things I write.

Serious? Food? C'mon! For people like us food is fun ... why can't it be amusing as well as informative? I really think that most "normal" people ... people like Jay and me and most of the folks around here would derive more benefit from a "common-gal" perspective than a dry, technical, serious discourse. But I probably think that because that's what I like.

I guess I'm just going to have to try to write a book instead.

Happy belated anniversary wishes to you and Jay. Your dress, the cake, and the two of you look absolutely gorgeous - though maybe a bit thin.

Thanks so much for the anniversary wishes and kind words. And do you want to hear something sad ... back then I thought I needed to lose more weight.

so i had this long post and POOF my computer ate it!! Long story short...HAPPY SUPER BELATED ANNIVERSARY Brenda and Jay ...LOVE the wedding pics!!
And from all of the suggestions we are now strongly considering Tutto! thanks Friendies!

Thanks Gina! And we're considering Tutto as well ... more for our guests this fall than for ourselves.

Guess what everybody? We get two days in Disneyland now instead of just one! Although, budgetwise, we're having to give up a day at Catalina Island. That's okay, there's next year for that. I'm so excited! That means one day with family at DL and then one day by ourselves.

Yippee!!!

 

[oybolshoi]

hey friendies

Brenda..i just read your most recent reviews and i cannot believe you tried that egg!! Greg is 100% Scott ( so much so a kilt will be his wedding attire!) and he gets this Clan newsletter ( Macgregor) and there are all these crazy recipes..and Greg has been begging me to try and make that Scotch Egg!! I will have to show him the picture and see if he still wants me to make it.it looks borderline scary..but intriguing!!

I tried it but I seriously doubt that I'd ever order another one. I like hard boiled eggs but once they're rolled in sausage and then deep fried ... meh, not so much. I try to only eat things that will clog one artery at a time ... that thing will clog at least two, maybe three.

Beautiful food porn, Brenda! I laughed at myself when I looked at the first picture of the tenderloin; I thought it looked like a giant burrito with red sauce! (Probably from the pain medicine I took for the mysterious back pain that appeared this morning. I hate getting older.) Those cakes are ginormous for only having "four" pieces, aren't they? But they sound and look divine.

Ha ha! It does kind of look like a burito now that I look at it again!

I'm sorry to hear your back is troubling you ... hope you feel better soon. I hate gettng old too ... I keep trying to walk off some weight but now I'm having problems with my feet. Wha? I never have trouble with my feet. It's stupid.

I'm so sorry about the problems with your nephew and his wife. I never read anything in your review that would have been disrespectful or anything toward them and I love your sense of humor! Did they never think of how many times they have hurt your feelings (not showing up, etc.)? We will love your review no matter how you post it this fall. We are having worries ourselves about the friends joining us for our December trip, so I can feel for ya.

Thanks Jamie. And it's funny you said that about the hurt feelings thing because I pretty much said the same thing to Jay when the whole thing flared up. And he said, "don't be silly ... your feelings aren't important!"

It definitely changes the dynamic when other people vacation with you, doesn't it? Right about now I'm remembering why Jay and I are loners.

If anyone needs cheering up tonight or has nothing else to do, guess what's on all evening? Land of the Lost (circa 1975) marathon on the Chiller channel! It's so bad, but I just loved it back then.

I loved that show when I was a kid. And I love the word sleestack!

On a good note, my parents anniversary party went wonderfully today! It's so nice getting all of my mom's siblings and family together along with friends and neighbors. Her sibs are between 59 and 83 years old so it's always good when they can get together all at the same time. We had a cupcake tree, but have 2 dozen left--anybody want one??

I'm so glad everything went well ... I know you were working hard to make it terrific. How did the scrapbook turn out?

cake! cake! ccccaaaaakkkkeeee!
I'm craving some now. I guess I'll have to settle for some ben & jerrys.

Brenda, I honestly don't know how anyone could be offended at your writing. So keep your witty comments coming!

Winkers, thanks very much. I really appreciate that.

Brenda,
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your reviews and TR's. You make me smile, and more than once laugh out loud. They are just such fun. Keep 'em coming!! They are very much appreciated!!!

Thanks - it's nice to know I can make someone laugh now and then; it makes me happy.

What she said!!!!

Loved your food porn Brenda, the pork loin looked amazing! But those cakes looked incredible!!!! Thanks so much for posting!

Thanks Kathy!

Brenda - Happy Anniversary, your dinner looked so good! Maybe the bakery said four pieces so people would order more then one cake? LOL.

Thanks! And you may be on to something with that idea about the bakery trying to get people to order more cake. It worked with us, didn't it?

I just got the funniest new cookbook yesterday, it's called Take This Dish and Twist it. The recipes seem really easy, but look really good. It's all comfort food with twists. Like a blue cheese stuffed chicken breast with a hot sauce, that I have to try.

That sounds really cool - post some pictures please one you try something.

I couldn't agree more.

Thanks very much.

 

[TigerKat]

I just got the funniest new cookbook yesterday, it's called Take This Dish and Twist it. The recipes seem really easy, but look really good. It's all comfort food with twists. Like a blue cheese stuffed chicken breast with a hot sauce, that I have to try.

Please post them here if you like them, I'm always looking for new recipes to try!

Serious? Food? C'mon! For people like us food is fun ... why can't it be amusing as well as informative? I really think that most "normal" people ... people like Jay and me and most of the folks around here would derive more benefit from a "common-gal" perspective than a dry, technical, serious discourse. But I probably think that because that's what I like.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[BigMama]

Brenda

Once again love the food pics ! THAT CAKE LOOKS DELICIOUS!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Please post them here if you like them, I'm always looking for new recipes to try!

Yes indeedy ... we're always looking for great food pics and tasty recipes here!

I couldn't agree more!

Brenda

Once again love the food pics ! THAT CAKE LOOKS DELICIOUS!!

Thanks! The cake is amazing ... ranks right up there with the couple of cakes we've ordered from the GF Bakery while having dinner at V&A. Unbelievable taste and texture and you just know that every bite is going to end up on your thighs or butt or tummy but it's so darn good you don't care.

 

[whogirl'smom]

Brenda, I really do think you should write a book--you should read the weekly food review in our local paper. I can't even read Mystery Diner anymore; if they're going to get a college student to write it, at least pick an English major!

The back is better today. I must have just twisted wrong loading the dishwasher or something, or maybe just stress. The scrapbook turned out great! I think the whole family really enjoyed looking at it since most of them made an appearance somewhere in it. Both my parents were really appreciative. 78 pages in 3 months, whew!

Here's something to make you laugh about feeling old. I put on my capris this morning and bent over to pick something off the floor. I thought I heard a crinkle of paper (like a receipt) left in my pocket, but when I checked, nothing. I bent over again to get the blow dryer out and found out what the crinkle was....IT WAS MY KNEES!

 

[D&R love Disney]

Seems like the right time to share a little home-made food porn with my friendies. Here's some pictorial delights from last Friday, which was our 10th anniversary.

We started the morning with a french toast bake from Dean & Deluca. Here's how they pimp it on their website:

This ethereal dish is made exclusively for DEAN & DELUCA. Egg bread is soaked in creamy maple custard and swirled with cinnamon, ginger and cream cheese, then spiked with macerated raisins.

Just before popping it into the oven ...

Slopped onto my plate right before I inhaled it ...

Ya know ... this might be the first thing we've ordered from D&D that didn't knock our socks off. It was good, but no better than something I could have made myself and which I was just too lazy to do. It was light and custard-ey and did have a nice flavor, it just didn't have that special something that we've grown accustomed to from D&D.

And now for dinner ...

We started off with Welsh Rarebit and miniature toasts for dipping. We washed it down with Unibroue's Seigneuriale.

Rarebit and toasts ... a not-so-hidden Mickey.

Beer #1

Mmmm, it's been years since we've made rarebit and it's so darn good I can't for the life of me think why we haven't made it more often. It's a wonderful cheese dipping sauce made with cheddar, worchestershire sauce, beer and other things that I can't remember right now. It would be especially lovely to share on a cold winter night in front of a roaring fire. As for the beer, it was a new one to us but we really liked it - nice amber color and an interesting citrusy, malty flavor ... very smooth!

Our main course was Deviled Tenderloin, the recipe I stumbled across in the newest Williams Sonoma catalogue just a few days earlier. The recipe actualy calls for it to be grilled, but we didn't feel like doing that so we stuck it in a roasting pan with some veggies and let it cook for a couple of hours. The beer we drank with this was Unibroue's Trois Pistoles.

Ready for the oven ...

Ready for our tummies ...

Beer #2

I liked this pork recipe and it was very easy to make, but a little pork goes a long way for me so I only had a single slice of it. I think Jay liked it a lot but would have probably preferred a bit more kick. The beer is dark Belgian-style ale and despite its color it's neither heavy or harsh tasting - it's actually got a hint of sweetness to it and also goes down nice and smooth.

Next I'm going to include pictures from Saturday ... we discovered there was no way we could eat everything we'd planned so we put the rest off for a day. I guess sometimes we're not a piggish as we think.

This next dish is crab cakes with jalapeno butter. We first tried this at Emeril's a few years ago and were blown away by how good it was ... so we've come up with our own less impressive but still tasty version, as shown below. Believe it or not the butter is really easy to make: one stick of butter, one jalepeno, and a minced garlic clove.

Jalapeno Butter ...

Sweet, succulent crabbie patties

We then followed it up with one of our favorite salads - Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Fresh Berries (for some reason spinach leaves don't bother the Crohn goblin so I eat it as much as possible now). We tossed in some blueberries and strawberries and Jay made a red wine vinegar, olive oil, and garlic dressing.

Rabbit food with a twist ...

And we washed this down with a pitcher of Emeril's Sangria.

Thank you sir, may I have another?

Fantastic food porn! The deviled tenderloin looks so good

I love cooking special meals like this.

The cakes look so good and the wine, I've always wondered what it tastes like but can't justify the cost to try since I'm not a sweet wine drinker. Now if someone offered a glass I'd wouldn't pass it up

 

[TigerKat]

Here's something to make you laugh about feeling old. I put on my capris this morning and bent over to pick something off the floor. I thought I heard a crinkle of paper (like a receipt) left in my pocket, but when I checked, nothing. I bent over again to get the blow dryer out and found out what the crinkle was....IT WAS MY KNEES!

Been there......

 

[Tink rules]

Just a quick drive by... been kinda super busy... will be back to read again...

Bendy... LOVE the shot with the A1 bottle in the background... Why you didn't just tip your head back and shake that last little drop into your mouths I can't guess... (you did...didn't you???)

 

[disneyfav4ever]

So I made that chicken for dinner tonight. It was good, but I have to play around with that sauce recipe to get it better. But stuffing a bunch of blue cheese in chicken is tasty even without the sauce, LOL.

I'm seriously thinking about making one of the breakfast recipes tomorrow. If I get up before noon that is.

 

[madameleota71]

Brenda, I really do think you should write a book--

I totally agree!

Here's something to make you laugh about feeling old. I put on my capris this morning and bent over to pick something off the floor. I thought I heard a crinkle of paper (like a receipt) left in my pocket, but when I checked, nothing. I bent over again to get the blow dryer out and found out what the crinkle was....IT WAS MY KNEES!

I know how you feel! It really sucks getting older, doesn't it?

 

[ChelleinNC]

Did ya miss me?

Made it home around 10:30 pm after a long slow drive. I will catch up here a little later, just wanted to tell ya all it was a wonderful trip! Viva La Mochachino as some would say

 

[oybolshoi]

Did ya miss me?

Made it home around 10:30 pm after a long slow drive. I will catch up here a little later, just wanted to tell ya all it was a wonderful trip! Viva La Mochachino as some would say

Welcome home!

Glad you enjoyed your trip and ...

VIVA LA MOCHACCINO!!!!!

 

[MA pigletfan]

So I made that chicken for dinner tonight. It was good, but I have to play around with that sauce recipe to get it better. But stuffing a bunch of blue cheese in chicken is tasty even without the sauce, LOL.

I'm seriously thinking about making one of the breakfast recipes tomorrow. If I get up before noon that is.

LOL!!! i am sure it is!! yummmmmmm!

Brenda..loved your anniversary food pictorial..those cakes look soo darn good!! Makes me pretty excited about the wedding cake i will be having Saturday. We are going to OHIO on thurs...sunday for a wedding..i have NEVER been to that part of the country before, so i am actually pretty excited. I will be sure to take pics of any intriguing food while i am there..and i am sure it will scare my table mates..but i could care less !!!

 

[TigerKat]

Did ya miss me?

Made it home around 10:30 pm after a long slow drive. I will catch up here a little later, just wanted to tell ya all it was a wonderful trip! Viva La Mochachino as some would say

Welcome home, can't wait to hear all about it!

I will be sure to take pics of any intriguing food while i am there..and i am sure it will scare my table mates..but i could care less !!!

Good DISer!