At Your Service

My messy kitchen as of 10pm Friday night...turned into:

Everything turned out very well, and people loved the food. However, only 8 people came, and I was told 25. So...there's LOTS of food left over. I'm disappointed only because I busted my ass working on Friday night and would have liked knowing that I didn't have to make 5 lbs of rice etc...

I forgot to take a pic of the cake, which was enormous, and is more than 1/2 way gone-even with 8 people! That's what I like to see!

After talking to Mr. CM when I got home, I continued laying on my bed and fell asleep until about 1/2 hr ago. I am off to bed again now...I am one sleepy girl.

Tomorrow if filled with lawn mowing and studying-next week is back to school...

Should be fun!

Taste of Humble Beginnings...

Pork was on sale: $1.99/pound today. The red onions were particularly waxy.

As my basket filled up with goodies; chicken, clams, mussels, shrimp and the like, people began to watch.

My list, 2 pages long, hung from my lip glossed lips, reminding me to remember the fresh cherries for the cake.

While my basket fills with food, I'm getting my first taste-

Did I convert the recipe right?
Do I really need 4 pounds of Kale? (That seems like a lot, but it will wilt...)
Will I ever find the time to make all of this?

And also of people curious about what I am making, or if I am having a party...

"I'm catering a graduation party on Saturday." I'd reply, if in fact they were courageous to ask.

I'm catering...me, I'm a caterer this weekend.

Grocery shopping is more fun when you have a purpose: to feed 25 people and impress them with your skill.

The menu:

Tapas Including:

Empanadillas (Beef)

Garlic lemon chicken

Crab Tartlets

Roasted Asparagus wrapped in Serano ham

Eggplant and Red Pepper dip on homemade croutons

Chips and Salsa

Taco Dip (A special request from the guest of honor)

Main Dishes:

Roast Pork Loin stuffed with prosciutto, roasted red peppers and kale

Paella with shrimp, chicken, 2 spicy sausages, clams and mussels

Dessert:

Famous chocolate cake with a twist: still with sweetened cream instead of frosting, but with a hint of Almond extract and filled with fresh bing cherries, b/c they are so, so very delectable this time of year!

I might put some chocolate shavings on the top too...who knows!

Wish me luck. I have little time, no help and very little space to store things...humble beginnings are good for me, right?

Hate is a very strong word.

These are some of the things I hate today:

People who think their way is the only way

People with an exorbanite amount of nose hair and a lot less sense that they have it

Contact lenses

Pollen

People who randomly put things on my desk expecting me to know what they want

Fluorescent lights

Banana Laffy Taffy (Really-is this any different than any other day? No)

Gas prices

People who call me “Young Lady” (This is still WAY better than Ma’am though)

My archaic laminating machine-though it fits right in with my equally archaic typewriter, both of which take up an uber amount of space on my desk at work

Breaded chicken-though this doesn't make sense b/c I haven't had any today.

And yes. I made a point to put it in pretty colors to make it seem less bitchy.

Shut up.

It’s The End of the World As We Know It (Or at least this contest...)

The Tie Breaking Questions:

What is my favorite circus animal?
There is a word that some people say “wrong” that makes me want them to die. What is it?
What size shoe do I wear?
What’s my favorite fruit?
What part of my body/feature do I hate the most on myself?


C-Unit’s Answers:

Elephant
Greasy said like Greazy
Size 11
Peaches
Your Nose
Megan’s Answers:
Tiger
Idea said like Idear
Size 10
Mango
Your arms

The RIGHT Answers:

Elephant
Greasy said like GREAZY
Size 10 Shoe
Strawberries
My Nose

So, without further ado: the winner is: C-UNIT!!!

Thank you for your participation, really, it was fun.

UPDATE!!

There has been some controversy about my contest.

Mainly who the winner is. ;)

I agree that there was a tie between Megan and C-Unit and 26 is up for debate...

Therefore, I will concede, and have a tie breaker. Please forgive the hiccup.

Each person (C-Unit and Megan) will be emailed the tie breaker question(s). The one who gets them right will be crowned The Queen of Useless Maggie Info and will get receive a $25 gift card to somewhere.

I'll post as soon as I know the winner!

(Sorry C-Unit-but I DID live in Florida-so a re-count isn't so odd)

Florida Pictures

Home again, home again, jiggity jig...

I had a FABULOUS time! Stories at the end of the week, but here are some pictures...as you can see, it was a trip of gastronomical proportions!!

The one and only Oriolegal and I after the BEST sushi! And, of course, our sushi!


The best mojito I've ever had in my entire life: From Cafe Tu Tu Tango-effing wonderful! Made with pineapple rum! The fabulous Ms. A and I dined until we couldn't walk on Tapas and Sangria...

The wall of wine at Emerils: Me at Emerils-I finally got there!! And "I found a friend" to dine with!
My Emeril's meal: Mussels with garlic Aoli...
Short ribs that fell off of the bone! (Orgasmic) and banana cream pie! Apparently it's Emeril's favorite...the pie that is...
I forgot to ask Ms. A (YES-I'm putting the "Ms." there on purpose!!) if I could post her pic, so for now, it's just me at Emeril's...and her arm!
We had 3 waiters...just so you get the feel for how awesome it was.

And on the way out...a lady wearing sturrup pants. YIKES! It was wonderful to see my 2 friends who I haven't seen in so long...

And the Winner Is...

Here you go...

1. What hand do I write with?
Left
2. What do I want to do after I graduate from culinary school?
Own a Party Planning Business
3. One of my following senses is super sensitive, which one? (a) Hearing (B) Sight (C) Smell (D) Touch
Smell
4. What state was I born in? Extra credit if you know the town.
Tarrytown, NY
5. When is my birthday. Partial credit if you only know the month.
July 28, 1976
6. I don't like swimming for a long time. Why?
I don't like to be pruney
7. How tall am I?
5'10
8. What color eyes do I have?
Technically, hazel, but mostly they are green-either answer is right.
9. There's a major problem with my house and it constantly gives me problems. What is it?
It floods.
10. Who is my favorite person in the whole wide world?
My niece, Rye Bread
11. Last summer I made a dress. Why?
This could have been a trick question-depending on who you talk to, technically I made a ruffle-not the dress-BUT-it was made for civil war reenactment.
12. What do I do for a living?
I am an executive assistant for an international power company.
13. What is the one thing I want to do before I die?
Learn to play piano...though all of your other answers are right too, this one is the most right.
14. What's the most adventurous thing I've ever done?
Bungee Jumped.
15. When did I start this blog?
Exactly 1 year from today: July 5th! Because it was easy to find (in my archives) nobody got this right.
16. What is my most favorite Walt Disney World memory?
My most favorite WDW memory was from Traditions when all the new cast members were standing on Main Street USA and the Disney "voice" came on the loudspeaker welcoming us. Chills...2nd comes the time I got to shut the lights on the Xmas tree off for Spectro.
17. What characteristic am I most known for by the people who hang out with me?
I was going for my laugh.
18. What is my favorite thing to bake?
Cakes
19. Do I crave salty or sweet snacks?
Salty
20. Name the food I hate the most.
Salmon or Goat Cheese
21. What is my most favorite alcoholic beverage?
I took either Red Wine or Margaritas. Though I've been known to down some tequilla, it's not my favorite. And in all actuality, the Mojito has taken the place of Margaritas.
22. Am I a morning person or a night owl?
Night owl!
23. Where is the farthest I've ever traveled?
Europe-London and Paris.
24. Would I rather go to a dance club or a comedy club?
Comedy Club
25. When I travel on an airplane, what do I keep in my pocket?
Chapstick-because of a movie I saw when I was little about a plane crash and the little girls in the movie had such chapped lips that they were bleeding.

Obscure winner: Jenny T who's answers were emailed to me. Unfortunately she is not the winner, but here are here answers for obscurity:

"You have and extra bone in your knee and it's called Osgood Schlauters disease-you used to put sequins on your teeth b/c you desperately wanted braces, but never got them-you played flute and piccolo very well and you were in just about every high school play they had-you don't like clowns, however you used to have a big collection of ceramic theater masks."

So...who IS the winner?!?!?

Both Megan and C-Unit got 18 correct AND both answered the extra credit...it's a toss up, but I think the "You like the smell of skunks" comment is a little bit more obscure and so:

With 18 correct, the winner is:

C-Unit!!!

Congratulations, and THANK YOU FOR ALL PLAYING! IT WAS FUN!