Gettin' Figgy With It...

First, let me tell you how thrilled I am with this photo. To me, it looks like a photo you'd see in a cookbook, and I'm psyched that I'm getting better at photographing my food. It's harder than you'd think, and with the bazillion food blogs that are out there, it's even harder to stack up...

I've always thought that fresh figs were very elegant and pictures of them in food magazines are so pretty. Earlier today at the grocery store I was amazed to see fresh figs on sale! Knowing that I was not going to have any guests this weekend, I bought 2 with the intention of making myself a healthy dessert. (I'm trying to be healthy naturally so I don't have to start the alli program!)

Figs are great-they're just sweet enough to make you want to eat them, but not overly sticky sweet, which makes them great for savory dishes as well. I have several recipes for hor d'oeuvres involving fresh figs and am aching to have a cocktail party or something so I can serve them. Tonight though, my thoughts were on a single serving for one.

This recipe is so super easy, I don't even need to give you measurements. Best of all, there are only 3 ingredients:

Figs
Honey
Goat Cheese (or mascarpone, or yogurt, or a host of other creamy things you like)

Cut the tops off of the figs and make an X to open them up. Place them on a large piece of aluminum foil and drizzle them with honey. Close the foil over the figs and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. When they are done, place the figs on a plate, dollop with goat cheese and pour warm honey over them.

Serve hot or at room temperature. So simple, so pretty, and so delicious!

As Seen on Craigslist...

Offering a pair of new men's sneakers. Never worn. Size is 10-11. Color is orange.

Very sturdy with 3/4" thick sole

These are GENUINE PRISON ISSUE ! ! !

Be the first in your family (hopefully) to own a pair.

Purchased for use as a gag gift. Served the purpose. Now time for someone else to have fun with them -- or wear them yourself, if you don't mind being stopped by the police. :)

Would like picked up ASAP

*********************************

Why do I feel like these are actual sneakers from someone who escaped from prison and they need to get rid of the evidence? I fully expect to see this person on a "Worlds Stupidest Criminals" saying that they were in the clear until a local cop saw the ad and responded...

They're probably really just a gag gift-but still, it would be funny if I was right.

Staying Put

While walking around my neighborhood last night I looked around and realized that I don't want to move. I love my location, it's proximity to everything and it's energy. I love that I can walk around at night and feel safe because there are always people around. I love that the T is right outside of my door and I can be downtown in 15 minutes.

I love my apartment. Even though the kitchen is small.

I love my high ceilings and the crown molding over the doorways and the long, tall windows.

I love my bedroom and how it overlooks the interior of the brick building.

And I love my view-my city so bright and shiny waiting for me every night.

Perhaps it's just because it's my first apartment in Boston and I truly love it here, but this just feels right. It feels like I belong here and I'm not ready to give that up.

Even for a free, off-street parking space, central air and a kitchen. That place is too cookie cutter, too much like the house I just left. And it's too far away from city life.

And so...I stay. For at least another year.

Here's to a freakin' hot apartment, circling the block for hours to find an open parking spot, juggling pots and pans when making a cake and lots and lots of good times...

Sunset

Tonight I was supposed to meet up with a group of people from my group but I couldn't find them! I arrived about 15 minutes early because the hostess said she'd be by the bar at that time, but obviously, she wasn't. It's always weird going into a restaurant for one of these things when you can't find the people right away, because the host tries to be helpful and I end up feeling stupid. Why? Because I don't know these people, so...it's just awkward.

I was disappointed because I'd really like to meet some more people and it's always nice to go out and socialize. Because I was already out, I decided to walk across the street my favorite Dim Sum restaurant to get some yummy dinner. The owner is really cool-he used to be a cab driver but when he saw that he had some franchise opportunities he enlisted his cousin and they started cooking. It's so good.

I walked home, got changed into my sweats and ate dim sum. Overall, it was a nice relaxing night, but I still wish it had gone as planned.

Randomivity

I called the gas company and found out they'd charge me $176 per month for heat and hot water in that 1 bedroom apartment, so I told the landlord I was not going to take it. Then I found a 2 bedroom across the street from my office that has wood floors, a big kitchen, central air/heat, a new bathroom and a free parking space off of the road.

I miss kissing.

Supper club was the best idea I've had at work so far. It's so fun and I get to cook and create meals as well as make new friends.

If I get this new apartment I am having a house warming/Christmas party. It's been a while since I've had people over for that kind of thing.

Tonight is drinks up the street with a bunch of people from the group. Should be fun and or interesting. Either way it's me getting out and meeting people, and that's what I love the most about this place.

I got free Bruins tickets for a game next month. They are really good seats, too-which is surprising!

If I move, I'm really going to miss my view, my bedroom and the sound of the T across the street. But I'm going to love the $125 in rent per month that I'll be saving and also the fact that I won't have to search for hours for a parking space.

And also, I would walk to work everyday.

It's hysterical to watch someones face when you tell them they were a naked smurf.

The Magic 8 Ball has not been my friend lately.

Seeing the mean girls reaction to my putting a big ass plant in the hole in our wall to block her view of my computer was both funny and gratifying.

Boys should not get their hair cut in shady shops in Chinatown. Girls should not eat yellow Asian berries from said boy after he admits the shadiness.

Today is my Papa's birthday. I miss him everyday, and wish that he had seen the things I've done these past few years. I think he would have gotten a kick out of the adult me.

Toosdae ?'s

Apartment update: The utility company has no record of past bills because he just switched from oil to gas. Because of this, I told him that I couldn't commit to living somewhere when I had no idea what it will cost. He wrote back saying he'd find the oil bills to show me and that he'd commit to paying anything over $350 during the winter months. This is the type of man he is. Very kind, very accommodating, which is another reason I'd like to live there. I'm going to call the gas company back today to see if they are able to do the yearly plan (where they space it out over the year) even without a history. If they can, I might just do this.

1. Which is most important for you when purchasing from a store advertising a sale? A percentage off the item, buy one get on free type of sale or a percentage off a future purchase?

2. You see something in a store that your really want (like a HDMI splitter) but it is very expensive and not in your budget (but you have the money to purchase it). How easy is it for you to talk yourself OUT of buying that item?

3. Do you try clothes on in the store or wait until you get home and return it if they don't fit?

1. Because it's typically a % off, I'd say that's my choice, however I love a good BOGO sale and usually take a second glance at things when I see that.

2. Right now it's really easy to talk myself out of things because I want to have money for future events. However, if I see a great deal on something I've needed for a long time, it's usually harder to walk away.

3. I always try them on. If I don't have time to, I try do come back another day and pray the clothes are still there.

Manic Monday: Bite

Be sure to click over to Mo's Manic Monday Blog to join in the fun!

One of my favorite commercials is currently for Axe Body Spray. It's the one where a chocolate man walks through the streets tempting women with his chocolately goodness and along the way ends up getting eaten.

My favorite scene is, of course, the one where he is riding the bus and the girl sitting behind him leans over to bite his chocolate butt:

I love this-it's the greatest thing ever because though I don't love chocolate I do love butts and have been known to bite a few in my day. Usually it's little baby butts (like Rye Breads!) but I've also had the urge to bite the butt of a cute boy too. What can I say? I'm a butt loving nut.

:)