Paper Clips

First off, we love our Netflix account. Although last week I got into the habit of watching a 30 Rock episode almost every morning (we're on season 3--love it!), which meant I definitely did not get to work early.

On a positive note however, there are amazing documentaries on the instant queue. We watched Paper Clips this weekend and totally loved it. I cried multiple times and was just so impressed by what 8th graders can do. It's about the Holocaust and how some 8th graders from rural Tennessee went about learning as much as they could about it.

Spike's Village Fries

I know, baked fries are pretty amazing. And we don't even own a deep-fryer. But trust me, borrow your neighbors and make these fries soon. Your mouth will thank you. They come from our favorite burger joint in DC, Good Stuff Eatery. I know, I've talked about it here, here, and here to name just a few times. I got the cookbook for Christmas and sometimes just flip through it, it makes me that happy.

These are seriously the best fries I've ever had. Something about the rosemary and thyme just makes my heart melt. They're good by themselves, or with some amazing-flavored mayo (I always ate mine in DC with the mango mayo, but I haven't made that one at home yet) or plain 'ol bbq sauce from a bottle.

I didn't get a good picture this time, but until we make them again, for your viewing pleasure, they should look a little something like this.

Fries

• 5 pounds Red Bliss potatoes
• 1 cup chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 cup chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• Canola oil for deep-frying

To make fries: Wash and scrub potatoes under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Cut in half lengthwise, then into long strips about 1/4-inch thick.

In a deep pot or deep-fat fryer, heat about 3 inches of oil until a thermometer reads 250°**. Line a metal tray or baking sheet with paper towels.

Add one handful of the potatoes to the pot. Fry until tender but have no color. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain on the paper towels. Repeat the procedure until all the strips are cooked. Refrigerate until cool.

Reheat the oil to 350°. Line the metal tray with fresh paper towels.

Add the cooled potatoes a few handfuls at a time and fry until golden and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain on the paper towels. Toss with the rosemary, thyme and salt while the slices are still hot. Serve immediately. 

**The deep-fryer we use only had 300 F as it's lowest temp so we just watched them carefully to make sure they were tender but not totally cooked.

i heart christian radio.

Here's a good story: The spring break of 8th grade (I think) I went on a ski trip with one of the local Methodist youth groups in town. A group of my girlfriends were going and since I'd never been skiing and wanted to go and it was relatively cheap, my parents let me. It was rad. We went to Breckenridge. I loved it. And, the practically the whole bus ride from Texas to Colorado, I listened to this WOW cd (like "Now that's what I call music[[just saying that title, makes me feel old]]" but with Christian pop songs instead). I memorized every song and seriously loved that CD. Now that I think about it, I think I stole it/borrowed for life from my friend because I just kept listening to it.

Back to the present: A co-worker brought up that she listened to Christian radio a few weeks back and now I'm addicted. I listen to the radio all day at work and practically have all the pop radio songs and commercials memorized, so it's nice to listen for a change of music. They also have hardly any commercials. AND I keep my ears peeled for songs from my WOW cd.

And guess what?! I heard a song from that cd today as I was driving home from work and belted it out. Totally took me back to my jr. high days. It was amazing.

For those of you that would like to listen to the song I heard and then another of my favs from those early 2000's, check out the videos below.

A [[very belated]] birthday party!

Yesterday Ryan and I celebrated his 24th birthday together. I know, it was a long time ago, but since I had already left to come back to work, we decided that it was high time we had a party together to celebrate.

I started the day by writing on a ton of post-its and putting them all over the apartment. And I told Ry "Happy Birthday" any chance I got. Then, I sent a mass text to friends and family asking them to text Happy birthday to him, to make it feel more like a real birthday.

After work and school we celebrated by making an AMAZING Good Stuff Eatery meal including the Prez Obama burger (the horseradish mayo is so good) and Spike's village fries. Seriously, so good. I made a non-alcoholic tiramisu for dessert and we watched the movie, Amazing Grace, as we prepared and ate our very drawn out meal (the fries took a bit longer, but good heavens, they're TO DIE FOR). I put up some decorations too, it was so fun!

*I didn't know the banner said "Happy 30th Birthday"…I thought it just said "Happy Birthday"..oh well.

**In case you're just dying to make the recipes we made, posts to come soon!

a wedding!

Kaylea's wedding was this weekend and although I haven't done much or any editing to the pictures I took, I added them to Facebook and thought I'd add a few here as well. It was so much fun to be near family and friends makes me cross my fingers even more that we can one day live closer to them. At least maybe driving distance?

Congrats Kaylea and Josh! Your wedding was beautiful, y'all are beautiful, and we can't wait to see you again!!

PW's Sweet and Sour Meatballs

picture from PW's website.

It's really called "Meatballs with Peppers and Pineapple" but Sweet and Sour Meatballs seems just so much easier to say/remember. Click on the link and bookmark it. It's good, easy, and did I say good??

I made this last week for Ry and I and it lasted for days, tasted great each time, and I will definitely be making it again.

On that note, I'm so bad about getting dishes online or from other people and making them, taking pictures and loving them, then forgetting about them and not making them again. Ryan always laughs because I'll making something and talk about how we should make it again sometime and then never do it.

But really, I'll be better this year, promise.


Back to the recipe, I used regular breadcrumbs and not panko, and used fresh pineapple like she said, and it was SO GOOD. I'm actually going to go to the store one more time while it's on sale, since the fresh stuff is so good. That being said, I think I'll try it with canned pineapple too, since I'm totally not about that.

...we're alive...kindof

I know, I've been totally lame in blogging, especially over the holidays, but I'll be back soon, I promise! I'm currently typing this on my lunch break while I take a break from GRE studies.

FYI, I'm taking the GRE

TOMORROW!

Keep me in your prayers, I'll totally need it. And then I'll be back to blogging--I've got loads to tell you!