Olympic Trials

I am by no means a fast long distance runner.  Sprinting was my idea of running, over and done in less than a minute haha....

I enjoy watching sports, Ice Hockey, Football, Baseball, when my Phillies  are playing and World Cup Soccer, GO Team USA!

 This Summer London will host the 2012 Summer Olympics.  I love the Olympics, Winter or Summer this people AMAZE me! They are soo dedicated to what they do. They are in the best shape of their lives and have trained their whole life to go to the Olympics.  What also amazes me is that Biggest Loser has had two former Olympians on. I bet it's hard to go from working out 24/7 and having people tell you what to do and what to eat, to fending for yourself.  Obviously it doesn't happen to every Olympic athlete, but it still happens.


I haven't paid much attention to the Olympic Trials, but I just got the Washington Runner's Report which was reporting on the Trials in Houston and how History was made.  I am AMAZED, A.M.A.Z.E.D at how fast the these people can run.  It must just be in their blood, the first time they run, the first time they pick up a ball and they know.




Congrats to both the Women's and Men's Olympic Marathoners!

Team USA!

Wing Off!

Hobby of the Day: Cooking

Recently a group of friends and I started a "Cook off."  Whoever wins the competition gets to choose what "secret" ingredient to use, or can choose a theme of the cook off.  So far we have done two.  We had a dip off which was filling, rich and delicious. We had buffalo chicken dip, crab dip, chili dip, some cheesy bacon dip.

This last time was our Wing Off,  the winner from last time, Andy, won with his crap dip.

I have NEVER made wings before.  I am also not a huGe fan of wings.  I will eat them, but I don't get a craving for them.  We dont' have a fryer, so we baked ours, Gary essentially fried his in the oven with oil and butter, thus causing the smoke alarm to go biserk.   I made a Caribbean Chicken wing and he made a Sriracha chicken wing.  We also had several versions of teriyaki chicken wings, bbq wings and ghastly garlic wings.  It was a nice variety of sweet and spicy.  I was not pleased with mine, but Gary's were great, as were the ghastly garlic.

Winner: My Hubs! Yeah, next cook off is at our house.  We also won the coveted trophy.

The First Place Prize

Recipe for Honey Sriracha Wings:

Ingredients

For the Wings:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for the pan
• 2 pounds chicken wings, split at the joints, tips removed
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup honey, plus more for drizzling
• 1/4 cup Sriracha (Asian chile sauce)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly coat a large rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil. Dry the chicken wings with paper towels and place in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, the melted butter, granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the mixture over the wings and toss well to coat. Spread the wings in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the wings until browned and crisp, 45 to 55 minutes. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add the honey, Sriracha, soy sauce and lime juice and stir until the mixture bubbles gently. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Carefully remove the wings from the baking sheet and transfer to a large bowl. Pour the warm sauce over the wings and gently toss to coat. Transfer the wings to a serving platter and drizzle with morehoney; serve with lime wedges.

Cupcakes!

I love cupcakes!  


I don't necessarily love eating them, unless I'm in the mood, or find a fanTAStic one.  I do however love baking them.  I started really baking about 6 years ago when we started going to small group and had to provide dessert.  I wanted to impress and so in rolled my love of cupcakes.  I won the bake off at our school with my Pumpkin Spice Muffins, a small feat.  


I've tried the cupcakes all over DC, Sprinkles,  Georgetown Cupcakes, Crumbs, Hello Cupcake, The Sweet Lobby, Alexandria Cupcake in VA.  Usually I try and choose the same one from each place.  My staple is Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting.  My favorite that I have had so far, Crumbs!  They are HUGE for one and well worth the price, considering regular size cupcakes from other places basically cost the same.  


Cupcakes in my opinion HAVE to be moist and the frosting creamy, but not overly sweet. Also, it is important that with every bite of cake that you also get a bite of frosting.  Most cupcakes need to be eaten the day of, however I have discovered that Crumbs cupcakes can last for a few days and still be most amazing!  

Recently I had the opportunity to try CrunkCakes at The Pug, a bar on our favorite street to dine out on, H Street.  They had the Irish Car Bomb and the moisture did NOT disappoint, probably helps that there is booze in it. haha...I CAN'T wait to try more.  I could taste the liquor, but it wasn't overwhelming, just enough to give it that extra burst of flavor.  

Guinness chocolate cake infused with Jamesons with Bailey’s buttercream 

Plenty of Icing

Photo of the Day(s)

Jan 12

My Everest!  of Deliciousness 

Jan 13

Quinoa

Really?!

Um....... would you?!

I can kinda see the benefits, it's essentially like having a little potty for your child that you have to empty regularly....

but I don't really want to empty fake grass full of dog pee, call me crazy....

Who Needs Snow?!

Hobby of the Day: Being a Teacher


Well it's Jan 12 and I'm officially disappointed in our weather.  It's rarely been colder than 32 degrees and SNOW?! HA!  We had a "dusting." I NEED snow! I NEED cold weather?  I don't live in a 4 season state to have fall and spring like weather year round.  Grr....I keep checking the weather in Quebec. I don't even know what 7 degrees or below 0 feels like.  Not that I want it all the time, but man.  I have turned on the heat 0 times this winter and the fire twice.  


Anyway, with or without snow I still do my Winter art projects.  Hence, the story Snowballs by Lois Ehlert - I LOVE her work and so do the kids, we had to read it twice.

I love the hair sticking straight up and hair band!

Snow Panda- P.S. Pandas are my Favorite

Spikey Haired Friend and Pup

I love how she made a hair ribbon from two sparkly things I had

3D nose, Alright! She said it was like a carrot!

I was SO proud of my students creativity! Go Kiddos!

They were NOT allowed to use scissors, ripped paper only 

Picture a day

Hobby of the Day: Taking Pictures


I meant to start posting, but I forgot.  I got this idea from someone else, it was to post a picture a day for the year 2012.  I am a little behind, so I will catch up with a few pictures.

Jan 1- Happy New Year

Jan 6- Looking at all the Christmas Tree Corpses

Jan 7- Oh Maryland, YES, You are taking up THREE spaces!

Jan 8- Wontons at Pho

Jan 9- I will wear you yet, little yellow Bikini

Jan 9- This is why Whole Foods Produce is Yummy! 

Jan 10- First Snow- Barely and yet FINALLY

Jan 11- Help I've Fallen

There aren't really any rhyme or reason for each photo, just something that excited and or inspired me for the day.

Sorry to be missing Jan 2-5, I'm gonna be better :-)