A Note to the Boys

Dear Boys,

I adore so many of you... to bits & pieces.
You're oh so fun & oh so handsome.
You make me laugh & give my adrenaline a rush.
You make me think & bolster my courage.

... But you're idiots.

You hurt my friends.
You yank their heart strings.
Twist their words.
And lead them on paths of confusion and distress.

If you like her...
Tell her.
If you want her...
Invite her for coffee.
If you care about her...
Protect her.

Also...

Just because I wear a dress
doesn't mean I can't climb a tree.
... or like heavy metal
... or love a guy that's elbow deep in car grease more often than not.

If you only know us by the depth of our skin

You don't know us at all.

Marriage starts with a friendship.

Grow some stones & talk to us.


Sincerely,
Sick & Tired.

Coffee, Culinology, & Spice Blend Bliss

I'm practically obsessed with coffee in every single way.

I nearly never go without my morning cup...
& if it fancies me, I get an afternoon and maybe even an evening cup as well.
The thing about coffee is: it's gotta be good or it's not worth having at all.
This weekend, I was introduced to a brand new coffee experience and I fear
I am ruined for life for any bitter cup o' Starbucks forever.

I introduce to you... Portola Coffee Lab



Portola is the first Coffee shop I've heard of that blends Culinology
with the brewing of fine coffee, and I must say
it's an utterly fantastic marriage!
You don't pay for Frap-whip-nonfat-soy who-za-whatits.
You pay for some of the best coffee in the biz.
You pay for the method you would prefer your premium roast coffee brewed.
You pay for the extra shot of seltzer water you use as a palette cleanser
for that extraordinarily flavorful espresso shot.
You pay for the extra latte art you don't even have to ask for.
You pay for the steam-punk/hipster atmosphere.
And you pay for the funky design mug that heightens the aroma experience.

Yep. A Coffee Snobs Heaven.

Have I mentioned I work in a sector of Culinology??
Well... I work in a Flavor Factory.
So I work with this sort of fun stuff:


Not so different from Portola's aye?
I even have to wear a lab coat too!... Though I don't get the cute Fedora. Shame.

Even better, is this little haven is located right in the middle of a warehouse...
Where a fabulous spice store is also located.

Savory Spice Shop!


If you have never been to a spice shop, you must find one and go ... right.now.
They are so dreamy. And they smell magnificent!!

Just from smelling their samplers, I was fairly impressed with Savory.
I even bought a Coffee Baker's Blend while I browsed.
However, my true loyalty is for Penzy's. Forever & Always <3


Lemme tell you why.
Lemme tell you about Vanillas.
Nielsen Massey claims to be the experts. But let me give you the skinny.
They use flavors. Aka chemicals (i.e. Guaicol). Aka... they CHEAT.
Penzey's has their own manufacturing plant for Extracts.
They don't contract out.
They're the BEST vanillas I've found to date.
Why isn't Savory as good?
They use plastic bottles. If you have a really high alcohol content in vanilla
I don't want it put in no stinkin' plastic bottle.

Bourbon. Madagascar. Double Strength. AMAZING.
Go to Penzey's. Fall in love :)

Autumn Fun & Toasty Tid Bits

I love fall.
I also love shopping.
But you know what makes me just about the happiest lil lady that you ever did meet??
Produce shopping right before Thanksgiving!


And lucky me!... I live right around the corner from a quaint little Produce market!
It's owned by this wonderful European family.
They always have what I need for super cheap!

Which brings me to my main point :)
This week, I'm making the cutest lil mini Pumpkin-Pecan Pies ever!!
And here's a big tip for all you bakers and chefs out there...

ready....

DON'T.BUY.CANNED.PUMPKIN!!!!!!!!

I don't say that because "I'm such a purest and everything in my kitchen is from scratch!"
I say it because it's way incredibly cheap!
Here's the pumpkin I bought for a whopping $3...

... Of course, this was after I literally tossed it off my balcony so I didn't have to ruin one of my good kitchen knives ;)

After I cook this up, skin it, and puree it, it'll probably be close to 6-8 cans worth.

....Just sayin'.