Italian cooking and Chihuahuas

Next time I make dinner for someone this is the general plan of attack...

with this for dessert

and a bottle or two of cheap wine. Since that is how I roll.

Hopefully they like it. I always sound like an old Jewish mother making sure everyone is well fed. I might as well be walking around saying "Eat. Eat. You're too skinny!" to everyone.

I really do love cooking for people. Though the process of me cooking is a lot like the steps of dealing with a death.

1. Denial- They don't want me to cook for them.
2.Anger- What the fuck did I get myself into. I really can't believe this.
3.Bargaining- Okay. If I change my plan of action it will all work out. Maybe.
4.Depression- What I made is the worst thing in the entire world. It is a complete failure.
5. Acceptance- Wow. That was actually tons of fun. Can't wait to cook again.

Then the cycle continues over and over again.

In the dog world.

Chihuahuas are NOT my friends. They all hate me. I get bit by those dumb little dogs every time I see one.  They look like they have water on the brain. Big bug eyes. Shaking like a crackhead on the street. I try to be nice to them. I love all animals and would never be mean to one but they are getting on my last nerve. How much can I take?
On the positive side of the dog world

Shih Tzu dogs LOVE me. And I am really starting to grow fond of them as well.

                             XOXO

English countryside and French Bulldogs.

I am back on my French Bulldog kick. How are they not the cutest things in the entire world? There are only 8 that come into the Petsmart grooming salon and the other day there were two! It just reminded me of how much I love them.  Also, the new Martha Stewart Living came in the mail and she always puts pictures of her two Frenchies in  the magazine somewhere. I really wish I had the kind of money needed to buy one. Or two. Or ten. $800 dollars is a hefty amount to spend on a pet when I really want to travel around the world.

Maybe someday. Until then, I guess I will just plot how to take some of the ones home from work.

I really want to get out of the United States for a while. Like always, I wanted to go to Australia for a while. Forever. But was advised against it by an Australian until the current economic situation is over. So now I have moved on to wanting to head out to the English Countryside. I really don't like the country at all. At least the country in America, but something about the English Countryside has an appeal. Another issue though is I wouldn't know what to do with myself once I got there. If only I could survive on charm alone I would be fine. I feel the need for some wild adventure away from Texas. I am not really sure how much longer I could live here. Some people go crazy after only living here a few years, I am going on 22. I am just really scared to go out of the country on my own. There are no big rewards without taking big risk though. So I might as well just jump and see what happens.

Plus there are some really interesting rock formations I would like to see in person.

XOXO

In search of a meat pie recipe...

I never actually go by recipes when I cook. When I do things more often than not turn into a complete and total disaster. Like my go at Tandoori Chicken. Bad idea. Though it eventually turned into an okay creamed chicken curry.
So this time around I want to make "authentic" Australian Meat Pies.

I don't know exactly how authentic they would be if I made them. Since I am in no way Australian. But I have kissed at least three. So that should count for something I guess.

I also plan on making another batch of Lamingtons.

Which should look like that. But the ones I made the first time looked like a train wreck. They were Australian approved.

In the dog world, I will be sent off to grooming academy in the spring. How exciting. I really couldn't say no to the offer since Petsmart pays for it and pays me to go. It also means that I will have a job for the next two years as stated in the contract with 40 hours a week. A groomer the other night told me I shouldn't be so submissive and that I would never make it as a dominatrix. I don't know how I feel about that.
I really am a big push over though.

Did you know Schnauzers were used for guarding breweries, wheat crops, and pubs? Any dog that guards my beer is a friend of mine. They didn't use super cute mini Schnauzers. But still.

XOXO

Plate Tectonics and Vegemite.

           Today in Environmental Geology we are learning about Plate Tectonics. This is my third time learning about them and at this point I am really tired of them. These people in my class have never taken a Geology class before so they insist on asking really terrible questions. California will NOT fall into the ocean please stop asking. I am starting to wonder if they believe if they ask enough times if it will come true. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is exactly where it sounds like it should be. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Convergent faults come together divergent faults pull apart. Easy as pie.

             So right now I am googling new wild and exciting recipes to try out. Yesterday I bought two small jars of Vegemite for my Australian friend S since they are on sale at The World Market for $4.99 a jar. I tried Vegemite not that long ago. It wasn't nearly has horrid as I had been told to believe many times before. It certainly isn't my favourite by any means. The point being now I am looking at these recipes that use Vegemite as a marinate with honey. I might actually give it a go. I just need someone willing to try it with me.
                http://www.vegemite.com.au/vegemite/page?siteid=vegemite-prd&locale=auen1&PagecRef=653


                                   XOXO