Purple Haze: What the WBAL team is doing this Sunday! January 13, 2012

Let your purple freak flag fly!!

Saw this car on my drive to work this morning(before you lecture me about taking a picture in my car…I was stopped at a traffic light!), but it made me think, what is everybody doing this Sunday for the Ravens playoff game? Here’s what I’ve found out so far:

J-Fran, in purple as always on Friday...

Jennifer Franciotti, who is the truest Ravens fan I know, is working this Sunday. Before you say, “Awwwww, that’s too bad“, let me add that she is at the game! So the girl is happy, you know? Wouldn’t be anywhere else. At home though, her family is saving her some Buffalo wings and sliders, and a glass of wine for when she gets home.

the I-team's Jayne Miller...also a big fan...

11 News I-Team lead investigative reporter Jayne Miller will take some time from investigating, and as a season tickets holder, will also be at the game Sunday. What’s she eating? She tells me she will definitely hit a few tailgates, menu TBA, and probably have a Guiness at the game…depending on how cold it is. “What’s the difference between a playoff game and a regular game?”, she asked me. Not knowing of course, she replied, “At a playoff game, everyone STANDS, all the time!”

Mindy Basara and me....comparing our purplicity....

Mindy Basara will watch the game from home….and she was thinking wings, but their grill has been acting funky, so they may switch to chili…or maybe a complicated buffalo wing dip thing, but she doesn’t have all the ingredients to it. She’s hoping she can con her hubby into shopping for it AND making it. Love that, girl.

And yours truly, as mentioned on Facebook,  is making a Pork Shoulder Braised in Apple Cider..a recipe I saw on the Today Show last week. It looks AMAZING…and I have the pork…just need to score the cider. IF you would like the recipe…here it is!

the lovely Sarah Caldwell sports some purple too....

Sarah Caldwell will also be watching the game from home….I asked her if she was making something special…..she said negatory on that…but you never know. Maybe she’ll change her mind.

John Collins.....a working man...

Meterologist John Collinsis working Sunday, so he too, will not be tailgating or baking purple pastries, or throwing a pork shoulder in the oven.(I’ll save you some John).

Lowell Melser.....looking lavender

 11 News reporter Lowell Melser has a little problem…which is kinda hilarious(Chris Daschille laughed out loud when he heard it). Lowell’s wife was invited to a baby shower on Sunday…that starts at 1 PM. And they did not reschedule. Yeah. So, things are a little up in the air…maybe view part of the game at a bar in Canton, maybe pizza in his basement on the BIG screen…you know. He’s keeping it loose(except being a little stressed over the baby shower thingie.)

hope you have a great time on Sunday…that the Ravens win(yeaahhh!)…that no players get hurt…that no one throws rocks, and you all come home safe…’cause we miss you! ♥

Sometimes you just need some caveman…. February 5, 2010

This is how I'm rolling tomorrow...note the superwinch...

Ok, this isn’t to pile on Toyota a little more….but there are have been a few rare times in the perfectly nice relationship between me and my hybrid, that it looks a little…well…wimpy. Most of the time I feel pretty cool in it(I’m sorry, but it’s true)…but there are times when a sensitive car for the new millenium won’t cut it…when you need some caveman.  A guy who works here(and wears shorts to work no matter what the weather) has the biggest monster truck you’ve ever seen(have no idea what brand it is, but it ain’t no hybrid)…with what sounds like  a gazillion horse power. Seriously, I would hate to see his Exxon bill. But it must be said, there is no car I’d rather be coming to work in on Saturday(and yes, I will be here)…than his car. Love it!! He is picking up both Mindy Basara and myself….and hauling us to and from work. We heart you John!! ♥

I hope her family appreciates the expensive chili.....

Made a last minute trip to the grocery store….I know, what a fool….and it was just the madness and empty shelves you would expect. The woman behind me in line with packs of meat(in the picture) said, “This will be the world’s most expensive chili…but that’s the only ground meat they had on the shelves…all the regular hamburger was gone.” Ah yes….procrastinaters can’t be choosers.

My haul this morning....croissant bread pudding, anyone?

And I was kinda in the same boat. I decided (last minute of course) to make a New Orleans bread pudding for a NOLA Superbowl gathering I’m going to Sunday( and yes, I can walk there)…but was there a loaf of French bread in the market? Was there?? Why no there was not…but I figured you can make a pretty mean bread pudding with croissants, right?

mmmm...nutella and cookies...I'm going to his house!

So I grabbed a couple of packs of those, some kitty litter(can you ever have too much?), some carrots(just because), milk(I’m almost out), half and half(for the bread pudding)…..and that was about it. No salad bar was set up( waah!) because it was all hands on deck at checkout! Wasn’t too bad really. Except now I’m wondering if I have any actual sugar at home….plenty of fake stuff, but any real sugar? I honestly don’t know. So perhaps I’ll see you at the grocery store, clawing for that last small sack of sugar!

How to throw a big party without spending a lot of money….. October 28, 2008

 

Whose chili is best? Pick mine, Pick mine!!

In these days of people keeping a close eye on their wallets…in some cases ever shrinking wallets….you may be thinking about a way to get friends and neighbors together without spending a bundle. No worries,  I’m here for you…. First you find a free venue…like a park, or your backyard…invite your friends and neighbors….and make it a cooking contest. That way they bring all the food, and oh yeah, make it byob! Fiendishly clever, don’t you think? I got the idea from a shindig in my neighborhood this weekend…now this is not unusual for where I live….we have these kind of things every so often, but it always takes someone who’s willing to take the time and effort to make it happen. 

An energetic neighbor named Martha  stepped up to the plate this time, with a fabulous chili cookoff….you bring the chili! And if you didn’t prepare feel up to preparing a big batch of chili, bring a dessert, or chili fixings like grated cheese and sour cream. ♣ Yum. 

I made Silver Palate Chili for a Crowd recipe, though I cut the amount of food of it in half, and there were still 20 servings. And I took quite a bit home, but as you can see above, there were tons of entries. And while I love the Silver Palate chili, it’s not too intense for a crowd..some people don’t like the hot…and you can always douse it with Tabasco.

A pulled pork chili...

There was even terrific bluegrass music provided by another (musical) neighbor, and a roaring bonfire. I wore some old castoffs of my daughters….a much loved school sweatshirt hoodie that is huge, sweatpants, Uggs…..someone asked, “Who underdressed you ?”

The perfect bonfire for roasting marshmallows...

 

A pretty good line really …and right on the mark, but who wants their clothes all smoked up? I just threw mine in the wash. Also overheard, some sage advice for parents who have either grown or almost there offspring…”I don’t say why don’t you, or why haven’t you, or you should do this or that…I simply say , let me offer another perspective.” Hmmmm. I like it, and will use it soon.  Or, as soon as I need to give some stealth advice.