Back in the states and home in MN for Turkey day. Got a bottle of Johnny Blue, a couple nice bottles of wine, and will be with family for a holiday for the first time in a long time.
Amen brother. Similarly, I'm thankful for friends and finding the inner strength to get through the worst year of my life as well. And to think after all is said and done, I'll probably be happier in 2014 than I've been in a long, long time. Life isn't something you can necessarily control, but I'm no fatalist. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
So Jägerette and I decided to start Christmas music early this year, and put on a radio station from toronto on that plays nothing but christmas music now. I got really excited because I heard the opening piano cords of Joni Mitchell's "River", as I love her. It was Robert Downy Jr. singing it. Who knew Iron Man had a Christmas album?
Similar to 9/11, when something dramatic and monumental happens people want to think there's more to it than a few pissed off people. Unfortunately, and even now with the NSA recording everything we type, bad things will happen simply because some people get pissed off and bad things happen as a result of that.
This year I will be spending this Thanksgiving with my girlfriend. Because we have exams starting the following Monday, the majority of the day will be spent studying. We will be having a big traditional Nigerian breakfast at her parent's house prepared by her mom and aunts instead of a big Thanksgiving dinner, as her mom has to work in the afternoon and the evening. This is cool with me because it maximizes my study time and lets me drink in peace.
Looking them up, I realized that I once ate at their Lombard, Illinois location. This picture was the giveaway: It was one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had, though admittedly there are a few gourmet places I have yet to try.
Apparently I am the only person alive who didn't care that much for Fogo De Chao. But then again I am not a huge meat fanatic. Give me a smaller, thoughtfully prepared plate of food any day.
I liked it, I went to the one here in Philly a couple of years ago, but I didn't think it was all that. The food was good, don't get me wrong, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to go there again, and in fact haven't gone again since. I wouldn't mind recommending the experience to a friend, but there are much better places to eat steak in my opinion. That being said, the bacon wrapped filet was pretty awesome, and the salad bar was quite nice.
The best dish to me at Fogo De Chao was the garlic mashed potatoes. I had never liked mashed potatoes until then. This stuff was so explode-in-your-mouth-no-not-in-that-way-get-your-mind-out-of-the-gutter good, it opened up my tastebuds to plain-jane mashed potatoes; actually caused me to suddenly like them.
I was just informed this evening that there will be a vegetarian joining us for dinner this year... Boy are they in for a treat when they'll see that not only am I smoking my regular dinner turkey, but will also have 2 full pork shoulders and 2 uncut briskets smoking the entire day for a party on Friday. Hope he really enjoys that butternut squash risotto since it'll be pretty much the only thing he'll be able to eat all day.
If that is the only meatless thing you have at Thanksgiving, you're doing it wrong. Thanksgiving actually lends itself to differing diets so long as the person isn't a douchebag about it.
Finally got the email going around regarding what everybody will bring for thanksgiving, and my husbands stranger sisters response is "I'll bring the strawberry pretzel jello". WTF is that?
The Google says this: STRAWBERRY PRETZEL JELLO SALAD 2 c. crushed pretzels 3/4 c. butter, melted 3 tbsp. sugar 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1 c. sugar 1 (9 oz.) carton Cool Whip 1 (6 oz.) pkg. strawberry Jello 2 c. boiling water 2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries Mix crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar together. Press into a 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool. Combine cream cheese, Cool Whip, and 1 cup sugar. Mix well and spread onto cooled crust. Mix Jello with water, then add frozen strawberries. Stir until berries soften and Jello starts to thicken. Gently pour or spread mixture over cream. Refrigerate
The person says who in the hell mixes strawberries and jello with pretzels. Items that are delightful on their own aren't better in combination!
In what fucked up universe is anything containing Jello considered a salad? I include the marshmallow salad, the carrot salad, that strawberry pretzel abomination and my mother-in-law's new favourite "salad" which consists of strawberry jello, cool whip, pineapple chunks, almonds and maraschino cherries. THAT IS NOT SALAD. Jesus Christ. SALAD: NOT SALAD:
salad is a pretty general term for combined ingredients bro, especially those served chilled SALAD: SALAD: SALAD:
My friend's fiancee's family has their special recipe they make for all holidays...Snickers Salad. Its literally Snickers bars cut up, some diced green apple, whipped cream, and marshmellow fluff. She calls a normal salad "green salad". Its absurd. Yes they are affluent trash. We've made fun of it before and she gets SUPER defensive. She didn't like my suggestion of Jolly Rancher salad, which was Jolly Ranchers tossed into a bowl and mixed with strawberry jam.