From food slave to food salvation

It's the Lenten season, which means a period of self-denial for us Catholics and other believers out there. While many celebrated Mardis Gras - or Fat Tuesday - last week, it seems I have been celebrating Fat Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and all the other days of the week, several times a day since Cruz was born. There was no denying my indulgence of sweets at every meal or snack - after all I was still eating for two, right? Twenty pounds and 3 months later, here we are.

Maybe I was in denial about my weight before but now I'm back on track, thanks to the resurrection of Jesus. The power of Christ compelled me to give up sweets, desserts, candy as well as red meat on Fridays.

Enter in obligatory Catholic loophole: apparently, according to one of my sources, we get one day to be bad again, and that's on Sundays. I guess God knew it was hard work to be penitent, so he decided to let us rest on the seventh day.

Long story short,as soon as I could say "Thank You, Jesus!" my mouth was full of my mom's sticky rice pudding. YUMMO!

More reasons why I should actually cook...

a NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWW kitchen!!!! (insert "Price is Right" voice over)

We chose a creamy granite counter top with brown, grey and red speckles to match our floors.

These other photos show off the new backsplash and cabinets (and under-cabinet lighting).

Dax surprised me this morning when a package arrived on my doorstep

Does this mean I have to start baking??!! Let's hope I don't do something dumb like burn butter again. At least if I don't bake, it makes for a nice decoration in my new kitchen.

E-V-O-OHHHHHHHhhhhhh

Yesterday, my OB said I was "ready" for "action" - IF you know what I mean...

She even went as far as recommending olive oil - IF you know what I mean...

Apparently, it is a trick she also used when my turkey was done approximately six weeks ago - IF you know what I mean...

It is funny to think of EVOO as a key ingredient to the circle of life. Low fat too. Gives new meaning to the term "organic."

Rachel Ray would be so proud.

Add one more to the Food Tour

I'm adding Bill Miller but not for the BBQ (even though you can get 2 chopped brisket sandwiches and tea for under $5). They're breakfast tacos are amazing! Homemade tortillas and their pickled jalapeno salsa are da bomb (in your mouth)!

Fast Food Tour - who's with me?

Usually when Pam101 comes to her favorite city of Austin, we hit up our local favs, like Juan's, Chuy's, Kerbey, Magnolia. The last time she was here, I introduced her to Sonic (cue in Heavenly music), and she loved it, naturally. So the next time she comes, I decided to take her to all the fast food joints that they don't have on the East Coast - and I have an excuse to eat this much because of the little alien.

Here's the lineup so far for Fast Food Tour 09 (in no particular order):

You can't beat their half-off all apps from 4-7 EVERY day. This includes their famous seasoned curly fries (which are now waffle fries) with queso. Yummo!

Everyone should try a Sourdough Jack once in their life, and let's not forget 2 deep fried tacos for 99 cents.

Beyond having famous fried chicken, we may stop by Top Notch for the mere fact that one of Pam101's favorite actors was here once filming Dazed and Confused. Can you guess who???

Gravy and 24-hour goodness. Enough said.

So this last one might be purely selfish of me bc I love kolaches. But Pam101 has never had one, and seriously, who doesn't like a hot dog!?

The list can go on and on. If you're wondering why I didn't include Taco Cabana, it's because she actually has been there on one of her trips...

Send any suggestions!

The Joys of eating... and cooking... and working with my team

CulinAerie cooking class was awesome. I hated the cooking but loved the eating ;) I burnt butter twice. How does that even happen!?

Lunch-time randomness

- Thank goodness for B. Springs in the summer. It is Doggy heaven!


- Bologna sandwiches kick ham sandwiches' ass.

- I could really use some regular Lays right now. None of that baked sh*t.

- Good idea to wear a hat and rash guard to the springs when exercising Lesbo.

- I now have an annoying chankla tan on my feet.

- Just updated my "about me" section with my old Myspace profile. Why write it twice?

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! (chant with me)

Well I’m finally back from Buenos Aires and into the good ol’ U-S-of-A. I’m cheering because only in the USA can you get an immediate food coma from the best cheeseburger and cheese fries with ranch in two weeks. All Argentinians are rolling there eyes right now.

I only post this photo as a sharp contrast to everything that I experienced on our trip to Argentina. Buenos Aires was the perfect mix of old world style and class – from its amazing European architecture to its tributes to tragic national heroes of yesterday – with the life and modernity of a city bigger than New York. It is alive with tango, technology, subways, fashion, wine, amazing food, coffee and a self awareness that is infectious yet unmatchable if you aren’t a Porteño.

Obviously, in relation to the latter, Pam and I stuck out like sore thumbs. Maybe, just maybe, we will always be remembered as the obnoxious Americans who might have slightly desecrated a national cemetery with a traveling naked doll, snorted loudly during a tango show and single-handedly jump started their economy again by spending hundreds on material objects of our affection – in one little pink store (h/t Pamcakes101 :).)

I could go on and on with pretentious little descriptions of the city and culture, but I won’t. The most amazing thing about Argentina was spending quality time in a great city with one of my greatest friends. As you might infer from the random moments captured in my blog, we did nothing but eat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company in a country that celebrates friendship annually. (Seriously, Argentina celebrates Dia Del Amigo every 20th of July!).

So, to Pam: thank you for being my friend and coming to Buenos Aires with me. You booked your flight not knowing where in the world BA was! You’re like... the butter on my Argentine bread roll. No, no wait. You’re like...the American cheese on my good ol’ American cheeseburger. :)

Don't judge

But the Golden Arches are just as good in BA as they are in the US :)
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I'm addicted

to Argentine ice cream. I have never before in my life - that I can remember - eaten more than a few tiny bites of ice cream at a time. Popsicles have been my thing recently. Now, in Argentina, I'm eating delicious chocolate ice cream multiple times a day!

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