Ingredients for Pasta Dough
2 cups semolina flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 to 1 1/4 cups tepid water

Directions for Pasta Dough
1. Place both types of flour in a large mixing bowl and stir to mix well.
2. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the water a little at a time, stirring with your hands until a dough is formed. You may need more or less water, depending on the humidity in your kitchen.
3. Place the dough on a floured work surface and knead it like bread until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover the dough and let it stand for 10 minutes at room temperature.
4. Pass the dough through a pasta machine (see picture "c"), starting at a higher number on the dial. Repeat several more times, ending with 1 to make it super thin.
5. Cut out shapes for the ravioli (see pictures "d" and "e").


Ingredients for Filling
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
Salt
Freshly ground white pepper
3 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus 2 ounces
Pinch nutmeg

Procedure for Filling
1. In a large saute pan, over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter.
2. Add the shallots and saute for 1 minute.
3. Add the squash puree and cook until the mixture is slightly dry, about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Stir in the cream and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
6. Remove from the heat and stir in 3 tablespoons cheese and nutmeg, to taste.
7. Season with salt and pepper. Cool completely.

To assemble the ravioli, spoon a dollop of filling (see picture "b") into the center of the pasta shapes. Brush along the edges with water, then press closed tightly. Seal with a fork. Then you can immediately cook in salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes until pasta floats. Or you can freeze the raviolis until ready to eat.

Next, create the sauce by melting 8 tablespoons of butter (one stick). Add 12 fresh sage leaves. Cook on medium heat until the butter begins to brown. Remove from heat. Drizzle on top of plated raviolis. Enjoy your hard work ! The question - is it worth it ? The answer - darn tootin' !

{3 comments}

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Salmon is my favorite fish. At restaurants, if there's salmon on the menu, it's a tough decision. Because I always get it, so I like to try something else. But it's so delicious that I can't help myself. This week, salmon was on sale at the supermarket, so I bought myself enough for three meals. And I will probably be making each of these meals the same way, because, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... or something along those lines.

Below is a recipe for some deliciousness: broiled salmon with maitre d'hotel butter, roasted potato wedges, and haricots verts (I love me some haricots verts). Also, it's REAL easy. PS: I cook for one, so adjust for yourself.

Preheat oven to 425° for salmon and potatoes.

Salmon:
Brush a filet with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Potato wedges:
Cut a red skinned potato (new potato) or what-have-you into wedges. Toss in oil, season with salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan with parchment paper (can be same pan if you've got the room).

Put the pan(s) in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until salmon reads 150° and potato wedges have browned.

Meanwhile, parboil some green beans, then sauté in butter and garlic.

Maitre d'hotel butter:
Take two tablespoons of room temperature butter and mix in 1/2 teaspoon country style mustard, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/2 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1/2 tablespoon chopped tarragon.

YUMS:

posted at 2:19 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, April 18, 2009

I have this weird texture problem. I can't eat foods with weird textures. I guess they mimic grossness and therefore trigger my upchuck reflex when I feel them in my mouth. Is this gross ? I'm sorry. I always could never "do" crème brûlée. It was just too slimey or something. Then again, I was never a very adventurous eater, so maybe I just imagined that it was disgusting. Who knows. The point is, I've tried it since and am in love. And I'm so pissed at my former non-adventurous self for being so ignorant. People, TRY EVERYTHING. You could miss a gem like crème brûlée !

Have you heard of Dessert Truck ? Well, it's this amazing phenomenon -- a truck selling gourmet desserts. They have an amazing crème brûlée. It's based on the famous Le Cirque recipe. Jerome Chang was a pastry sous chef at the renowned restaurant and probably left with a lot more than a bit of a tummy, wink wink (sorry Jerome, I don't know what you look like). So you can get this super expensive dessert frugal style out of a truck, and it's delicious. It was my inspiration for the following crème brûlée (seen below in some beauteous pictures).




Recipe !

Ingredients
4 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
Pinch of salt
8 egg yolks
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
16 teaspoons granulated sugar (for carmelized top)

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 300°. In a medium saucepan, cook the cream with the vanilla bean and salt over moderate heat until the surface begins to shimmer.
2. In a large heatproof bowl, blend the egg yolks and granulated sugar with a wooden spoon. Slowly add the hot cream mixture, stirring gently. Strain the custard into a large measuring cup; skim off any bubbles.
3. Arrange 8 ramekins in a roasting pan. Slowly pour the custard into the ramekins, filling them almost to the top. Set the roasting pan in the center of the oven and carefully pour in enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the pan loosely with foil and bake for about 1 hour (longer for deeper ramekins), or until the custards are firm at the edges, but still a bit wobbly in the center.
4. Transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours or up to 2 days.
5. Blot the surfaces of the custards to remove any condensation. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the granulated sugar over each custard in a thin, even layer. Get out your kitchen torch and let loose on the sugar for 30 seconds or so, until sugar carmelizes. Let cool slightly and serve at once.

posted at 1:31 PM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tax day deserves the best breakfast ever: Eggs Benedict.

Back to the subject of Hollandaise sauce and butter (clarified or otherwise). In my previous Raymond's post, we spoke of the yummers sauce being simply an emulsification of egg yolks and clarified butter. Usually I don't use clarified butter, because it's a pain the buttootie, and because I love butter just the way it is. But I wanted to see if the clarified really made a difference in taste. Turns out, it didn't; it's just as rich and creamy. All that did seem different was that the sauce didn't break as easily if I had made it with the milk solids. On a separate note, in my class PK1 (Production Kitchen 1), my chef made Hollandaise sauce with a splash of balsamic vinegar reduction, which grossed me out but actually tasted delicious. I'll try that next. Anywho, here's the very simple recipe:

1/2 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
4 egg yolks
squeeze of lemon
shake of cayenne or similar spice

To clarify the butter: heat the butter over medium-low heat in a sauce pan. Let melt completely and continue to heat until butter begins to separate. The milk solids will be at the bottom of the pan, and float on the top. What's inbetween should be the incredibly clear clarified butter. Let cook for about 10-20 minutes to get it to its clearest. Then skim off the top milk solids and you've got yourself some clarified butter !

For the sauce: over a double boiler with water in the bottom at a gentle simmer, beat egg yolks 'till light in color and thickened. Slowly add the clarified butter while continuing to beat. Remove from heat once fully incorporated, squeeze in some lemon and shake in some cayenne ! Season to taste with salt and white pepper.

To poach the eggs: bring salted water with 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar to a gentle simmer. Crack an egg into a plastic cup; dip the cup into the water, letting some water get into the cup; then pour both the egg and water into the pan. Poach for 3-5 minutes, then let drain on a paper towel.

Toast up some English muffins, quickly heat up in a frying pan some Canadian bacon (if you are so inclined, which I most certainly always am), top it off with your poached egg and pour on the Hollandaise ! Finish it off with some freshly chopped parsley. See finished product below. Mmmmm !

posted at 12:00 PM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Easter is known almost as much for its food as for its religious aspects. Unfortunately for me, my wisdomless mouth didn't allow for much enjoyment of the deliciousness my mother cooked up. There is one family tradition that really has nothing to do with Easter, or spring, and that is the glorious egg cake. Year after year my mother and my nana before her baked the egg cake for Easter. It's just Pillsbury yellow cake mix (THE BEST) with some delicious French silk frosting in the shape of an egg. With pretty flowers. And it is our tradition. Here is this year's rendition, decorated by me:




I will say that the French silk frosting is a family recipe, and that it is the best frosting I've ever had. The trick is to never, under any circumstances, use unsalted butter. Here's the recipe; don't go claiming it as your own:

2 2/3 cup confectioner's sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk (or half and half)

posted at 12:14 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, April 11, 2009

I use my coworkers birthdays as excuses to make yummies. Usually I'll just make a regular old yellow cake with chocolate frosting. This time around, Hannah (I spelled her name backwards so as to protect her identity) mentioned her childhood birthday cake being mint chocolate chip ice cream cake. I don't like her more than anyone else, but I thought a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake might be fun. I used real mint leaves, steeped in the hot milk to release flavor versus mint extract. It tasted too leafy to me, but I wonder if this is because I'm just so used to processed, fakola (artificial) flavorings.

Unfortunately, I did not take a picture because I was too pressed for time. Plus, it wasn't that pretty looking anyway. Next time.

I actually made this cake so long ago that I don't remember the recipe ! Gah ! Well, go to Epicurious, which is where I usually start looking for recipes, and give it a search. I used a 9x9 Pyrex glass square baking dish, lined with plastic wrap for easy removal. Added a top layer of the ice cream, a center layer of some deliciously crushed up Oreo cookies, another ice cream layer, and a final bottom layer of more Oreos ! You invert/flip this on a surface, try to make it look sexy with some prettily piped mint flavored whipped cream (I took the easy road with mint extract), and say Happy Birthday !

posted at 8:36 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Monday, March 16, 2009

I'm taking "Production Kitchen 1" right now, which I suppose is your basics. We use the kitchen in it's entirety and prepare a "menu" each night that the table service class serves to the bakeshop class. We learn knife techniques, basic cooking techniques, and basic menus. One thing that is a necessary basic is the making of stocks. They're used for everything from sauces to soups and are absolutely essential. They are time consuming and I hate them.

I decided I should put to practice what I've only seen chef do. So first comes the fun and most delicious part, roasting a chicken. Then you can do the crappy boiling of the bones and leftover meat part. I would rather eat a roasted chicken than chicken soup, but I see the need for it. Especially sick people, like Dan, who looked like death this weekend.

All good things start with butter. So of course that is always the first ingredient that comes to mind when I'm going to cook something. This chicken would be roasted with butter, sage, and thyme. Along with roasted potato wedges, mmm. And of course a green vegetable to round out the pyramid, garlic sautéed haricot verts (green beans to all you laymen).

Procedure:
Clean and dry your whole chicken. Tie it up, binding its legs together and pinning its wings to its body with kitchen twine. Season with salt and pepper, and stuff its cavity with a handful of sage leaves (6-8). Place it on the rack in your roasting pan and brush with butter. Cook at 425°F for 30 minutes. Lower the temperature to 350° and reapply the butter or fat from the bottom of the roasting pan. Continue to do this every 15 minutes. Cook the chicken for a total of about 1.25 hours (until you hit 165°F internal temperature - stick the thermometer sideways in the thickest part of the breast).

Meanwhile, when there's about 45 minutes left for the chicken to roast, get the potato wedges in the oven. Slice a few potatoes (I used three) into wedges (8 per potato). Put in a bowl with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a parchment paper and olive oil-covered sheet pan, loosely covered with foil, then cook in the oven (below the chicken) for 10 minutes. Remove the foil, then cook for another 10 minutes. Flip the wedges over, then cook for a final 10 minutes. (30 minute total cooking time).

Sauté some garlic in butter, then add green beans - so simple and yums !

So you take all that out and arrange like so:


For the stock/soup: take your chicken bones and leftover chicken and place them in a stock pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to keep a steady simmer going. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface. After 30 minutes, add one roughly chopped onion, celery rod, and carrot, along with a bouquet garni (parsely, thyme, bay leaf, cracked pepper corn). Cook at a simmer for 3 hours ! 3 hours ! (This is why making stock stinks). Once it's cooked, drain everything out, then add the stock back into the pot. Add the carrot, celery, and onion back in as well. Throw in some noodles (whatever amount you like best) and cook at a simmer. Chop up the chicken and add that in too.

I didn't take a picture of this because I was so sick of it in the end. And now it's in Dan's belly. Sorry.

posted at 5:43 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I like to buy bananas and then let them sit on the counter for days and never eat them. So they get pretty nasty looking, and I throw them in the freezer. I'll usually then take one out and defrost to make some banana French toast on the weekends. This time I had gathered seven super ripe bananas in the fridge, so I needed something a little larger scale than French toast to make use of them. The perfect solution: banana bread.

I was researching this one day, and came across the following recipe from Cake On the Brain:
CAKEBRAIN'S GO BANANAS BREAD
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups ripe bananas (about 7 medium) mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease two 9x5" loaf pans.
2. In a medium bowl combine flour, soda and salt with a wire whisk;
set aside.
3. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.
Add eggs, bananas, and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until thick.
Scrape down sides of bowl.
4. Add the flour mixture and then blend at low speed just until
combined. Do not overmix.
5. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake on center rack of oven for
60 to 70 minutes. A toothpick inserted in center should come out
clean, and the bread should pull away from the sides.
6. Cool in pan, for 10 minutes. Turn pans on sides; cool to room
temperature before removing and slicing.

It's pretty easy, and when you use frozen then defrosted bananas, they slip right out of their peel. Make sure you don't decide to cool other things in the oven that require different temperatures at the same time, then you might overcook your bread ! I'm pretty sure everyone save myself knows this to be common sense. Here's the finished product:

posted at 3:01 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Back in the day I had a bake sale. Well, I had a table set up at a craft show. I don't know what to call that. It was a crappy November day at the Jersey shore, so the only business I got was from the crafters. I guess it was not exactly my idea of a bake sale - selling yummies to appreciative patrons. Instead it was selling yummies to hungry people who couldn't leave their tables. I still made money, and we all know that's all that matters. I haven't done many of these, but this was my first "professional" event. The menu/offerings:
-Pumpkin muffins
-Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
-Madeleines: lemon, orange, amaretto, chocolate dipped amaretto, chocolate, and pumpkin with cream cheese frosting
-Cookies: crispy salted chocolate chunk, chewy steel cut oatmeal, and snickerdoodles
-Eclairs

It was a bitch. I worked until 3am and woke up at 7am to finish up. It didn't go as smoothly as I would have hoped, but everything turned out just fine. And I make a damn delicious éclair.

I made a very very slight profit. I need to work on my pricing scale. I so low-ball it.

Bad pictures:

posted at 5:24 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

I made an impulse buy. This is not surprising. But I hadn't done it in a while (besides the fortnight before's purchase of wii and Rock Band). I purchased a sweet camera, lighting set up, sweep, reflector discs, and tripod. This is for my porn studio. FOOD PORN. So I wanted to bake something to test it out. My uncle had given me, a wannabe pastry chef, a cupcake mix from "Sprinkles." I decided to try it out with some crazy frosting. My cousin Katie came over to give me some camera lessons, eat some yummy eggs benny, and frost some cupcakes. Here are the results:










The colors remind me of the food fight scene in Hook.

posted at 11:15 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, March 01, 2009

A good thing: apple cider. A great thing: hot apple cider. The most incredibly amazing thing ever: hot BUTTERED apple cider. Holy cannoli. That's all I need to say in this post to make you understand. And perhaps the following picture:



I went to Montclair, NJ a few weekends ago and went to Raymond's, which I've been to several times. It seems to be a "visiting Montclair" staple. They make a pretty mean eggs benedict. Or at least I thought so until I started making my own hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise sauce is an emulsification of egg yolks and clarified butter. Clarified butter is butter that has been rendered to separate the milk solids and water from the fat, effectively creating a fat with a higher smoking point (good for sautéing). Now I use butter - non-clarified - because I love the whole of butter in all of its fatty, creamy, tasty glory. The only problem with this is that there is a chance that the sauce will break, but you just mix it up a bit and it's fine. Plus it is so super rich that way. Plus plus clarified butter is a bitch to make, unless you buy ghee from an Indian food market.

It seems as though this post has solidified my love for butter. And I love it in both it's solid and liquid forms, gas and plasma too if possible. The absolutely perfect ingredient. The ingredient to end all ingredients. THE MOTHER INGREDIENT.

posted at 2:10 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Before we get into the main event that occurred last weekend, let me tell you about yesterday's breakfast. (PS: the reason I haven't written about the craft fair is because Dan has yet to email me those pictures - get on it, man!). I decided to make "apple pancakes."

I put these words in quotes because it's not your ordinary pancake. This "pancake" is oven-baked in a skillet until golden brown sprinkled with sugar. It has a custard-like texture save the buttery and thin slightly crispy crust. The recipe comes from my Aunt Amy, but I never asked where she got it from. You pour in the custard mixture and fan the apples that were tossed in cinnamon and sugar on top, and once they come out sprinkle a little more sugar on top. The outside is buttery and almost crisp but the middle is soft save the little bite you get from the crystallized and al dente apples. Mmmm.

This is what you get:


From this lovely recipe:

Oven-Baked Apple Pancakes

Ingredients:
1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 Golden Delicious apples
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425º.
2. Generously butter a 10-inch ovenproof skillet or casserole dish.
3. Into a large bowl sift together flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar.
4. In a bowl whisk together eggs, milk, and butter.
5. Whisk egg mixture into flour mixture until combined well.
6. Peel and core apples. Cut apples into wedges and in bowl toss with 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon until combined well.
7. Pour pancake batter into skillet and arrange apple wedges evenly on top.
8. Bake pancake 20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350º and bake 10 minutes more or until edge is puffed, pancake is golden, and center is set.
9. Sprinkle remaining sugar and serve. Serves 2.

PS: The "serves 2" really means serves 1, if you are Amanda Zadroga.

posted at 8:51 PM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

More than a week later, here's the long anticipated continuation of the previous story:

I pay rent. I live here. I BAKE ! So I did, and she tossed and turned; well, too bad for you lady. I wish I wasn't so concerned and didn't wait until 11, because of course I was late to meet the folks. And I'm not sure if you know what happens when I'm late to meet the folks, but if you know my father, I'm sure you can guess. Luckily, the folks were late too, phew (but not late enough for me to buy some pantyhose - fooey).

Anyhow, I know what you most want to hear about are those cream cheese frosting stuffed madeleines. Well, I am very very sorry to disappoint (you have no idea), but the madeleines were too dense to squeeze any frosting in there. It was a heartbreaking moment make no mistake. Instead, I cut them in half, slathered on some frosting, and stuck them back together - a very agreeable alternative. Unfortunately, it was too time consuming to replicate for the main event the following Saturday.

The other version of the pumpkin madeleines that I adapted from a basic madeleine recipe did not turn out so well, and the spice were kind of blah, not very spicey (not in the hot sort of way - you know).

posted at 11:32 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, November 01, 2008

My first ever "gig" is fast approaching, and I put that word in quotes because no, it's not a musical event as I know everyone will automatically assume, since, of course, the Dan and Amanda Band wrote and recorded so much material and I pick up that guitar/harmonica/tambourine/glockenspiel ever. (Was that a run-on sentence ?) This gig or event, more fittingly, involves food. Or at least for me. Etsy NJ is having an arts and crafts fair in Point Pleasant called Handmade at Om Baby (726A Arnold Avenue) next Saturday from 12-5pm. Most people sell their goods online through Etsy. I, unfortunately, don't think I can sell food over the internet (baked goods don't travel well). But it was certainly very nice of them to include me.

With November 8th right around the corner and me with very little idea of what I'm going to do, baked three types of spice/pumpkin madeleines last night, and tried out a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I originally had the idea to spread a little cream cheese frosting on top of the madeleines, but when I was explaining my idea to my mom about transforming her pumpkin roll recipe into madeleines, she interrupted and said, "and you'll stuff them with the cream cheese frosting ?" Holy cannoli, how she blew my mind. I would love to take the credit for this, but Mom, you know my heart better than I do. Regarding those chocolate chip cookies: I just had this epiphany that I should crush a little high quality Mediterranean finishing salt on top and you'd just bite into this deliciously sweet cookie and have a little burst of saltiness here and there. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.

I know that three batches of madeleines and a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies is probably not good for my figure (which, after seeing a doctor last week, I've found has gained 15 pounds since I started my new job). I figure that I can pawn some off on my family who I'm meeting this afternoon to see Spamalot (woo Clay Aiken !) and have a steak dinner (of course). So I made the dough last night, and as I have found with most doughs, let them sit overnight in the refrigerator which allows them to develop flavor and absorb liquid, with all intentions to bake them up this morning. UNFORTUNATELY, Eric is having his friend sleep over in the living room after a super late night of merry-making. What are my options here ? It being my apartment, and I had plans to bake this morning, can I go in the kitchen at a reasonable hour (what's a reasonable hour ?) and start baking ? I feel bad, but man, way to harsh my mellow, or my appetite. Stay tuned...

posted at 9:54 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, October 26, 2008

If I were to seriously date Elijah Wood (not that he's a prospect or anything), does that mean I wouldn't be able to watch LOTR anymore ? Because I don't think that's possible. Guess that's not happening then.

posted at 1:39 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

I'm sorry, Jay and Cheryl, but the mullen leaf did not work ! I don't know what I'm going to do. It's pretty bad now. It's gotten to the point where I ignore the problem and avoid going at all costs.

posted at 1:36 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Friday, July 25, 2008

Okay, how crazy is it that Dairy Queen has trademarked the curl on top of the ice cream cone ???? I really feel as if those sorts of trademarks are a tad ridiculous. "No one else can produce that curl," says a Dairy Queen executive interviewed for "Unwrapped" on the Food Network last night. So it's illegal for me to do make a twist on top of my soft serve cone. This upsets me, as you can tell.

posted at 2:39 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

I've been having some seriously vivid dreams lately. Of course I usually don't remember them once I wake up - I just know they were nuts. There is one I remember that was fun:

I was with a bunch of people, including John Mayer at a closed Dunkin' Donuts in the middle of the night. We're having a grand ol' time laughing and talking when someone yells out, hey John, let's hear a new song ! John starts singing a ditty and it's pretty catchy, then he segues into the chorus of "Blame It On Cain" by Elvis Costello. Everyone bursts out laughing and it's a fun time. We calm down and chill around the donut shop when these thugs break in. They stand in the middle of the store, dressed all in black, and have these huge chef's knives, butcher knives, all types of knives. And they start chucking them at us. I grab a chair and catch some of the knives, then I pick them up and throw them right back. I miss a few times but get some of the guys too. All the while I'm not particularly scared, I'm actually chuckling at my first couple of dud throws. Then I woke up. Weird dream. I don't know if it sounded interesting, but I thought it was one the more intriguing dreams I've had in a while.

Also, as Mark already knows, the previous post's digestive problems are no longer a problem. But now the other digestive problems I was previously having have returned. Unfortunately, the mullen leaf doesn't seem to be doing very much. :(

posted at 11:37 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, June 08, 2008

I never fully appreciated regular 'ol poops until now. Oh poops, if you come back to me I swear that I will never take you for granted ever again !

posted at 11:31 AM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

So I am officially a student of the culinary arts. I will start at the Culinary Arts Institute on July 7th. I get to wear a chef's uniform and a toque ! I get a knife kit ! The only class I can take this summer is ........ SANITATION ! Yay, woo ! But in the fall I am taking Bake Shop I and then Table Service I. We will see how it goes.

posted at 10:28 AM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Friday, May 23, 2008

JP cut his finger today "helping" clean up the backyard for tomorrow's "20th Annual Kick Off the Summer Classic." He kept whining and whining about it for the rest of the day. Finally mom was so fed up with the whimpering that she yelled at him to shut up or she'd cut off his finger. A few minutes later JP comes back with a pair of scissors and reluctantly hands them to my mom. I couldn't stop laughing. What a silly head.

posted at 10:46 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sunday I also made homemade pasta. I made raviolis with a simple ricotta/parmesan filling in an alfredo sauce. It was pretty good, but the filling wasn't as flavorful as I'd like. I'll have to play around with that next time.

Here's some yum yums:


I'm excited for the Katie/Kaity/Amanda pasta party. Ready ?
Wine !
Goat cheese and sun-dried tomato crostini (using homemade baguette)
Three types of homemade pasta:
Angelhair pasta in basic tomato sauce
Spinach fettucine in a garlic white wine sauce
Fun shaped pasta in a creamy walnut sauce
(If you have other suggestions, comment. Perhaps a stuffed pasta? Manicotti ?)

Dessert:
Get back to me with suggestions. Molten Valrhona chocolate cake ? (This is my vote.)

posted at 5:21 PM by Amanda. {3 comments}

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

PS: Regarding that poop, it belongs to the second floor neighbors' dog, Sprocket. I think he's a beagle. I was making up this story that Janet and Ben (second floor neighbors) had a fight with Jeff and Suzie (first floor) so they had Sprocket do their dirty work for them. I don't really know Janet and Ben at all, so I don't know if they are vengeful sorts of people. However, Suzie is an "actress" and Jeff is soooo coo' music business. I could see a personality clash, but this is just speculation. All I'm certain of is that Janet is from Ireland and Ben is from England and they have wicked awesome accents and when they introduced me to Sprocket I didn't understand and repeated, "Sprohkit?" and sounded like a dummy.

posted at 10:34 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Monday, May 19, 2008

Here is my first attempt at a madeleine:
(Click for larger version).

It's a "regular" recipe, though I haven't done enough research to really know what's what in regards to tradition. This one is flavored with some lemon zest and tastes fresh and light. The texture is somewhere between a sponge cake and a pound cake. I think I'd prefer it a little more on the sponge cake side of the spectrum. There was no baking powder in the recipe, but the madeleine still had it's signature "hump," albeit a little one. I also read in some comments of this recipe that the batter should sit up to three days in the refrigerator before use. So yesterday afternoon I made an orange version with orange zest and orange blossom water. I used a little less flour and butter and added baking powder to make them a little more airy. I'll bake them tonight and see how it worked out.

posted at 1:20 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Yesterday morning when I was leaving my apartment I opened the door at the top of the stairs and saw a pile of poop on the welcome mat in front of my neighbor's door.

posted at 10:31 AM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Saturday, May 17, 2008

I applied to culinary school and am optimistic. I'm going to meet with the recruiter on June 3rd to be given a tour. It's located in Jersey City and just had a $23 million dollar renovation. I'm super excited to work with such good equipment and especially be cool and wear the chef's uniform and get knives and cut awesomely. But it will probably make me sad about my jerk of a kitchen I have now. I don't know if they'll let me in though, because I just want to learn, not be a crazy cheffy chef.

So I think I may have to move to JC or something... I mean, if I want to do this in two years I'm going to die going straight from work to class till 10:30 then travel 1.5 hours back to Queens. Hmmm. Things to think about.

My bakery. I don't want a name that is totally French because it would confuse people, I've decided. Unless there's some cool alliteration or words that are the same or almost the same in English. This is hard. What's even harder is once I do find something I like, it's trademarked. Trademarking is LAME. I decided my specialty will be madeleines. You can have so many different variations and they are just lovely. So I thought I would do some kind of play on that for the name. I'm pretty sure you can't trademark a name, so maybe I should just call it Madeleine Bake Shop or something. I don't know. But like I usually do, I can't just be a no name company, the name comes first. Take, for instance, Surfwax Records. The one I spent $500 trademarking only to never use it and therefore forfeit my trademark. That was a good time. This time around, however, I'm not going to trademark it, and just hope that nobody is a jerk. The end !

posted at 9:30 AM by Amanda. {3 comments}

Monday, May 05, 2008

Unfortunately, it seems as though "La Bonne Bouchée" is trademarked. Luckily, though, I was able to find that out without spending money to search a trademark database. But now I have to think of a new name, which tends to take me a million years. I hear, though, that Mark is good at that sort of thing. So Mark, want to give it a go ?

posted at 5:20 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Saturday, May 03, 2008

I didn't make it into work yesterday. After waiting a year and a half for the train to come, I shoved my way on. I didn't have to hold onto any poles because I was being held up by everyone squished next to everyone else. When we got to the next stop, more people tried to shove themselves on. One guy wasn't going to take it, so he shoved his backside toward the door (and into me) so less people could squish us even more. For whatever reason, once the door closed, he didn't right himself back up so I continued having a huge man's ass (yes, a much larger behind than mine) sticking in my side 'till the next stop. At 33rd St a lot of people get off, and only a little less get back on, so there was some breathing room. But this is where people think they are the only ones on the train. I LOVE it when people hang onto the pole with their hole bodies, I don't know, practicing their fantasy stripper poses. Apparently I'm not supposed to be able to grab hold of a pole and should just be alright with "surfing" to stay standing up. I also love girls with their bags. With their bags that they think are lightweight and don't hurt when shoved into other people's bodies. I finally got off at my stop (to do it again on another train) and was walking through the turnstile, when some man stepped on the back of my foot and popped off my shoe. I made an "ugh" sound and he said, "well, you should be walking faster." I turned around and punched him in the face. Then the security guys detained me, so I kicked and punched them too. Then I got dragged off to a holding cell.

posted at 10:14 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Hey guys ! I don't have cancer ! But here is a picture of my mole sliced off ! And here is a picture of it today, healed. I'm working on the scar.

posted at 10:00 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Monday, April 28, 2008

I enjoy watching the Food Network show, "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." The premise is as follows: each episode, Bobby has a different "mission." This mission revolves around a certain dish. Whomever assigns him these missions finds the best of the best in that specific cuisine, and Bobby has to perfect their signature dish. The Food Network goes to wherever this cook is and tells them that they have been chosen to star in their own Food Network series. Then Bobby shows up, challenges them to a "throwdown" and they have a cook-off. Dan and I always thought it was funny that the FN tells the cook that they have their own series. I mean, if they did that to me, then I find out that it's only one time with Bobby challenging me to a throwdown, I wouldn't be that excited. I'd actually be kind of pissed. You're supposed to be all like, "Whoa ! It's Bobby Flay !," but I'd be like, "Wait... you mean I don't have my own show?"

PS: I should mention that the new episodes now tell the cooks that Food Network is doing a "profile" on them.

posted at 2:56 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Today was the first annual Record Store Day. Record stores across the country participated in music festivities to celebrate the indie store. I celebrated by going to Vintage Vinyl and seeing Nada Surf, my fav. It was only Matt and Ira, no Mr. Lorca (depicted here in his awesomeness), acoustic, and mostly new. They were taking requests, but I'm too much of a loser to shout anything out. I love them. I just stared adoringly the entire time. I cannot explain how they make me feel when I see them live. This is boring to you. But just listen to "Blonde on Blonde," please, and perhaps you will understand.

Afterwards, I saw my dad for a second, and in this second he made me go get the bread truck with him from the mechanic. I thought I was done with that crapola. But honestly, it was kind of nice to get back in the driver's seat of that sweet baby. I saw my fatty brother for a minute, too. Hopefully he'll lose some of that belly now that it's nice out and all. No Seansey this time around because Mary's a beach bum jerkface.

Then back to the city to meet up with my Aunt Amy and Gay Uncle Eric. We went to Bobby Flay's Bar Americain. It was pretty delicious. I love Bobby. Tell Bobby I will work for food. It was during this dinner that I learned I'm descended from pirates ! How cool is that ? The Deckers (Dekkers) were originally Dutch privateers aka PIRATES ! And also Rob Roy, or, Red MacGregor. And in the same clan as King Duncan of Macbeth fame. Found out I'm also Welsh. Other stuff too... too many to name, I mean, I'm of eleven (previously ten) nationalities.

Also, I decided on a name for my restaurant. Café and Patisserie Chouette. It is perfect. However, try to pronounce that. I don't want people hearing my restaurant, then thinking, ew, sweat. Hmmmm. I will have to ponder this further. I'm open to suggestions.

posted at 9:59 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

I got my mole sliced off with a scalpel today. Maybe once I'm brave enough to take off the bandaid I'll show you that gloriously beautiful picture. Speaking of gloriousness, hey Katie, remember that shirt we made Steven ?

I know these past few posts haven't been too long, but a picture's worth a thousand words, right ?

posted at 12:01 AM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

This morning, I woke up, showered, got ready for work, was about to leave and then noticed THIS (this again).

My mole exploded ! It just grew and grew and I guess it just couldn't take it anymore and popped. YUMMMMMMM.

posted at 10:23 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, April 06, 2008

So I'm sitting at my desk online whilst "watching" Ace of Cakes, sipping leftover champagne from the mimosas I made this morning for my brunch guests who have since left. I have the opportunity to get out and go somewhere, but I choose not to. All my blogs remind me of Mr. Kenny and 11th grade English class. Each sentence starts the same way: subject-verb, subject-verb, subject-verb. It's like being out of school has made me forget how to write.

Today I had guests (my mom, dad, JP, and baby Seansey). I made brunch. The menu was as follows:
Bagels
Smoked salmon with Scandinavian mustard sauce
Quiche Lorraine
Roasted new potatoes
Baked ham steak in a brown sugar glaze
Apple pancakes
Fruit salad
Cream scones

Now the scones I didn't read the recipe for before hand and therefore did not realize that I needed to freeze them for at least 4 hours before baking. So I didn't get to serve them, but I have them for future use now that I just finished making them at 10:15 at night. Now they get a whole night of freezingness and will be delicious next time (which will have to be next weekend because I don't get up early enough to make breakfast during the week because some of us have lame 9-5 jobs which are actually till 6:30).

Yum, now I'm having chocolate ice cream as part of my diet.

posted at 5:45 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Here's an example of my mom's festiveness:



I got them in my Easter basket and now they are in my bathroom. What's next ?! It's so exciting... maybe I'll get some flag ones for Memorial Day.

posted at 2:57 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Haha, last night only hours after posting the previous Lou called me. So did the lady I was a hair model for. Weird. I totally need a haircut too. I think I should stop dying it though; I keep getting split ends, which wasn't something that happened before. I'm also losing my hair. And my hairline is receding. Or it's all in my head. But I'm freaking out.

Did I tell you my brother's a little fatty ? My mom tells me to leave him alone because I constantly poke his stomach and call him a fatty. It seems as though during the winter when it's cold outside, once JP gets home from school, he stays inside the house and eats donuts. Whereas, when it's nice out he plays in the backyard and is too busy working to eat. I, on the other hand, stay inside being lazy and eating donuts (or cookies) all year long. On top of that I've been a gym member for a week now and I haven't gone once. I can't get myself up in the mornings and am just so popular that all my evenings are booked. Can't leave my BFF (Mr. TV) waiting for me too long.

posted at 5:46 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

A few weeks ago a guy (Lou Roule or something) at Barnes & Noble approached me with a business card (I lost his card with the url to his site) asking if he could photograph me. I said no right off the bat because that's just weird. But then I thought about it and spoke about it with my friends, checked out the guy's site, and it seemed pretty legit. So I agreed to meet with him.

I asked, "why me," and he explained that I have an attractive face, he notices that people are drawn to me, and that I have "one hell of an ass for a white girl." Okay.... I continue to listen to him because I have this strange complex where physical compliments, regardless of vulgartiy (well, to a point), are accepted and appreciated. Then he tells me what he has in mind: nude shots. I'm not interested in that. He says that's okay and explains a series that he's working on. He is taking nighttime shots outside at different sites to emphasize loneliness and isolation. I saw some of what he had done thus far and it was actually pretty good and I thought I wouldn't mind being a part of that. He said he would call me within a week.

It's been three and I haven't seen him at the store since. Guess we can take a gander and what he was really interested in...




MY NAKED BUTT.

Ew, man.

posted at 6:32 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Sunday, March 30, 2008

I knew the old layout had to go, so I whipped this up real quick. Don't tell me my links don't work, 'cause I'm aware. I'm just too tired to go on. I couldn't really think of anything, but I love cupcakes and bunnies, so... here is a cupcake and a bunny eating said cupcake. Man, now I want a cupcake.

Yesterday was my last and final day working for Barnes & Noble, ever. I signed away my ability to work for the company and signed into action my SEVERANCE. Woo ! Now I'll have a nice chunk of change (that will go to my ever-increasing credit card bill) and weekends off !

Yay, let's plan stuff !

posted at 1:23 AM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Thursday, March 27, 2008

So I got this awesome pimple in my ear about two weeks ago. It's still there because I continually accidentally purposefully scratch it. It was so ridiculous on Easter that my mom thought it was a growth and that I should get it checked out. I know this is the most awesomest post ever.

Here's something not gross:


For real, is that not the cutest picture ever ? I'm going to make a magnet out of it.

I don't have any magnets and I want to start a collection. So if you have any awesome pictures, send them to me and I'll make a magnet (depending of course). I was going to say not any pictures of Mikey in drag, but that might actually make the cut.

posted at 5:33 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Sunday, March 23, 2008

I so cannot wait for when Obama wins the presidency and I can rub it in to Uncle Dennis. I can't believe my mom told him of my candidate of choice yesterday. I was extremely glad that the Longs were on their way out, otherwise I would have heard a lot more of it. Though he was sure to make time enough to explain that McCain would win, make no mistake. There's no way America will vote in a woman or a black man. And when McCain does win, Uncle Dennis promises that he won't let me live it down. If by chance, though, Obama or Hillary wins, they're going to be assassinated. So I have a lot to look forward to. The man is warped !

posted at 10:29 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Friday, March 21, 2008

It's funny that ever since I changed the company I work for on myspace from Barnes & Noble to SonyBMG I have been receiving a flux of friend requests and messages from bands and musicians. Do they actually think that I have some sort of clout because I work as an ASSISTANT in the SALES department ? Are you guys carazay ?!?!?! I actually haven't listened to any of them, but I imagine them to be pretty awesome based on some of the names and user pictures.

Here's a healthy mix:
Rudy
eXimus
Samantha E
1000 Grand
Wonderlust

posted at 3:52 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Sometimes I get a little sad that I live so far from home. Because then I don't get to go home for some deliciousness that my mom makes on holidays. My mother is very festive. She wears green on St. Paddy's Day and dressed us all up in St. Patrick's Day garb. Now I relive these times vicariously through my shamrock earrings that my nana brought home from Ireland years back. My nana was also very festively tacky, with all her awesome holiday pins.

So I didn't get a home-cooked Irish meal this year -- I went to a pub instead. Turns out that Sunnyside, the town in Queens in which I currently reside, is a big Irish hub of New York City. There's two pubs on every block ! I went to P.J. Horgan's with my friend, Wen. He was one of three Asians there. I know how he felt. Whenever I went to a Cantada family party it was so incredibly weird. I can't really explain it. Anyway, everyone's Irish on St. Paddy's Day ! Real Irish food tastes way worse than my mom's fake Irish food.

I had this wonderful idea that I would make Irish soda bread for the occassion. Of course, I didn't get around to it 'till last night. I decided to be a fancy chef and change the recipe. Look at me being so cutting edge in the culinary world ! Yum, Irish soda bread; yum, lots of butter; yum, warm out of the oven ! YUCK YUCK YUCK, I had to spit it out. It tasted like chemicals. Turns out with my being so clever, I needed to change the amount of baking soda and also use baking powder. Do you know what baking soda tastes like ? Go have a little taste right now. This is what my bread tasted like. It's a good thing I was a piggy and had some first, because I was going to bring it in to work for brownie points. Maybe next time I'll stick to the actual brownies.

posted at 2:13 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Speaking of detective agencies, remember when I was in a detective club in the fourth grade with Julie Gresack, Beth Gelfand, and Jamie Silverstein ? We solved the crime of the missing diamond. The premise was as follows: The Magnificent Grazioli (played by classmate Justin Grazioli) was performing his magnificent feats over nature as an illusionist. He made a diamond disappear (gasp !), but it never reappeared. As fate would have it, Daniel Jerkson was the culprit, only discovered through an anonymous tip by an old man in the street whispering to us, "my son is a jerk." I was some imaginatively creative kid, huh ? Daniel Jerkson was a character inspired in real life by Danny Gertson, and he was a jerk. In fifth grade he said or did something mean; I don't remember what it was, but in consequence, I punched him in the face. I was sent to the principal's office. Nothing happened of course, because as I have already stated, Danny Gertson was a jerk. He deserved it. Now of course I feel terrible saying that because around Christmastime this past year he died.

posted at 3:10 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, March 16, 2008

So I think I should start a Sunnyside Detective Agency. Because obviously the police force doesn't do its job. In all seriousness, how can bloody footprints followed by a puddle of blood followed by a trail of blood not instigate some sort of police activity ?

Walking home from the subway station, I came across this very scene of bloodiness. The next day it was still there, so I followed the bloody footprints (only the left foot was bloody -- and barefoot) down the street. This person was weaving into and out of the street hopping on just his wounded left foot ! See how good of a detective I would be ! I know what you're thinking; Duh, Amanda, obviously he was wearing a non-bloody shoe on his right foot. And you would be right, I just imagine a bleeding man hopping up and down in agony would be funny, if it weren't so unfunny. But I bet the police would have deduced that it was a one-legged fellow if they bothered to even show up. I mean, if they're too lazy to check out this bloody mess, they're probably be too lazy to use their brains.

Anyway, the two block long crime scene was still there the following day. Only the rain Friday night washed it away. I wish I could have taken some pictures of my first Queens bout with crime. But maybe this was all a big trick played on the jejune white girl. I was probably pretty good entertainment, walking around with my magnifying glass...

I will end this post with some lyrics from a fitting song. Please do not read if you are my family and don't want to think poorly of me based on my love of DMX. Here is my favorite verse, followed by the chorus. If I were to make an educated deduction of the scene, I'd say it went down very much like this:

I got blood on my hands and there's no remorse
I got blood on my dick 'cause I fucked a corpse
I'm a nasty nigga, when you pass me nigga look me in my eyes
Tell me to my fuckin' face that you ready to die

I just love when a nigga bring his whole crew
It's just a bigger piece of cake for me to chew a hole through

I think you have to hear it to get the full effect. It's called "Bring Your Whole Crew." Enjoy.

posted at 10:39 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, January 19, 2008

I am moving ! To Sunnyside, Queens. I don't know much about the place, but there is a White Castle down the block, and that's good enough for me. I'm also moving by myself. I guess I'll just throw stuff down the stairs and hope nothing breaks.

posted at 11:22 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Friday, January 11, 2008

Oh yeah, also, I'm an aunt and Godmother! A fairy one. Here's Sean Patrick Zadroga-McNulty (What a cutie!):

posted at 10:56 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Is it bad that I told my boss today to suck it up?

posted at 11:45 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

So, as you all may or may not know, I have a new job working at Sony Music Label Group in the sales department. It's relatively boring thus far. It has the potential to get better once I know what the heck is going on. Anyway, the most amusing part of my day was reading in an email from some fancy person about an awesome meeting at the MoMA that might happen. He said that you shouldn't get your hopes up because it's only "heresy." I chuckled a long while to myself.

posted at 9:20 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Man, my life is so boringly lame. I need a place to live. Probably moving to Queens or Brooklyn. If you need a roommate, or know someone who needs a roommate, let me know. Hopefully things will get more interesting as I move on with my life. Dan too.

posted at 12:05 AM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Monday, November 19, 2007

     I am so glad my cooking class is over. It was in a high school cafeteria and we all just watched for 3 hours. It's okay at home watching the food network because they squeeze 3 hours into 30 minutes, plus you have great characters like Alton Brown and Bobby Flay entertaining you. My lady was nice and had a cool accent: she is from Australia, but her accent is tempered from living in America for 40 years. Otherwise, the class was just okay. I learned how to make stock. FUN! I learned to saute, braise, roast. FUNNNNNER! Today we made eclairs though, that was yummy. As I was saying, I'm glad it's over. In addition to the length of the class and lack of hands-onness, it is so annoying when your classmates ask every five minutes something Marcia has already said about twenty times. Seriously:
     "We cut a slit in the puff to let the air escape so that the inside dries out and isn't moist.... now let's --"
     "Marcia, why did you cut a slit in the puff?"
     I HATE YOU. I'M SO GLAD I WILL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN. I HOPE YOU NEVER LEARN TO COOK AND DIE OF STARVATION. Funny thing is, the person I'm speaking of in particular has taken this class three times already. Just can't get enough of Marcia, or just can't stop being retarded. I guess it's hard to get over that.

posted at 10:20 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Yesterday Dan and I went to an early fancy dinner for real cheap. We got a bottle of wine and Dan was drinking it like water. Wine is to be sipped, not to be gulped! Well, he was really drunk on our walk home. I had to support him and hold the umbrella. And he was really funny. He kept on saying when we went up the sidewalk from the crosswalk, up the little slope, that our legs got shorter and longer when we went down the slope to the street. "Oh look how tall we are!" "Oh no our legs are short, it hurts!" "Imagine what going up the stairs is going to be like." And when we got there he really tried, but towards the end he had to crawl because he was too short.

posted at 11:00 AM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Today at work some lady came up to me and said, "Excuse me." And I kept doing what I was doing but answered, "yes..." while looking extremely annoyed at being interrupted, which is basically what I do all day. I don't do what is actually my job, and when a customer wants help I act as though she is asking me to climb a mountain, or any such analogy. Anyway, she asked me if I worked there and I was like, duh, but not verbally, only physiognomically. And then she asked what was not expected. She asked if I would be her model for hair styling as her test to work at a salon. I would have to get a cut, not just a trim and coloring. Now, as last week I tried cutting my bangs but couldn't do it straight and instead kept cutting shorter and shorter till it was somewhat even, this was intriguing. I wore the bangs down (not pinned up) for the first time yesterday and I got many comments on how uneven it was, yay. So I specifically asked Dashawania if bangs could be done. And they could. The reason I cut my hair myself was not to be cool but because I am too poor to get a haircut in the city, or elsewhere for that matter. So I said okay. Free haircut, and dye. Too bad this didn't happen when I wanted my hair dyed and spent $75 getting it done. Now I finally decided I like my natural color and I have to get it dyed. So what color?

posted at 1:02 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Monday, October 22, 2007

This is sort of in response to Katie's rubbing post. I think it might be a Zadroga thing. Like perhaps Grandma (I think Grandma more than Grandpa) used to make the kids rub her feet or back because my dad used (and sometimes still attempts) to make us do that too. Whenever dad went up to bed he would beg Mary or I to rub his feet. And he would pay us. It was $1/minute for both feet (really 50 cents/minute/foot). I would get so mad that he'd make me do it that I'd squeeze his feet really hard taking my anger out on his feet, but in reality it made it even better feeling for him. So my plan didn't work out. I'd dread dad's bedtime and used to hide or actually do homework to not have to do the nightly rubbing. Now mom's stuck with it 'cause she's a sucker. Dad never made us rub his back, but he made us scratch it and rub his neck too. If I sat shotgun I'd have to do that and it would kill my left arm. Speaking of car rides with dad, one time he tried to teach me to whistle. That was fun. He was getting mad at me for sucking. My dad's a really good whistler.

posted at 12:02 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Today was Mary's baby shower. It started off well with a trip to get powdered sugar that turned into a car accident, followed by nice conversations with family seen not nearly often enough, and ending with the mom-to-be completely flipping out over a very not nice thing to say muttered by me. The day ended so poorly and I was in such a distressed mood that I refused leftovers offered me. Now Dan is starving. What a horrible person I am.

posted at 11:32 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, October 18, 2007

I just renewed thedanandamandaband.com. I wonder if I should have bothered spending the money on something I don't even update. However, it's a lousy $9.19, and Dan'll pay half. I'm thinking of getting rid of my cell phone because I can't afford it. I love being broke!!! It's soooo much FUN!

I am living in Hoboken now, just getting settled. We need to decorate more/better. But since moving in, I've decided I don't really like Hoboken and that I was settling in agreeing to live there. DELETED FOR CENSORSHIP PURPOSES. Isn't it funny that in order to do something that you really like you have to have money? I find it hilarious. HILARIOUS! I want to learn how to cook, but I can't get any money from the government because I already have a bachelor's degree; they already gave me all the money they could. You're not allowed to change your mind about what you want to do. You can only learn one thing.

Mary's baby shower is Saturday. Looking forward to some food!

posted at 2:48 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

I wrote this one a while ago, thinking my dad would upload the pictures, but he didn't, so I stole his camera and uploaded them myself (don't tell).

Mary's boyfriend, Pat, got my dad a plastic parrot statue for his birthday. I went to Walgreens to see if I could get eye drops for my conjunctivitis, but you have to get it through a prescription, which would prove difficult because of my not having any insurance. So I instead came home with an eye patch, so as to not pass along the highly contagious pink eye. Of course when I went outside, I saw the parrot and the rest is history. I am a pirate! Aaargh! (scroll down).

And JP wants to try!

Also, when going through dad's pictures, I found these nice ones. Dad had to rent a forklift in order to get his new monster of a grill (first pic) and in transporting the grill, ran over JP's golf cart. Now he was crying and crying about it, until he realized that the forklift must be his replacement...

posted at 10:54 AM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Wow. I just watched "Bridge to Terabithia" with my brother and I really was not expecting to cry my eyes out for the last 45 minutes. JP was concerned and was asking what I was doing. I can't get over it... sheesh.

posted at 9:54 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

So I decided to get my eyebrows waxed 'cause I'm an idiot. Actually, 'cause I'm going on a very important job interview tomorrow. Bad idea. At least they grow back. I'm going to have to cover them up with my bangs. I wanted to kill this lady. I said, "clean 'em up," she took 30 minutes to do what should have taken 10 and then gave up saying, "if I go anymore there won't be anything left." Well, lady, you were just supposed to clean them up so why would there even be a risk of my having no eyebrows? Thanks for using scissors too, HUH? I will have to learn to wax myself, I guess. If they don't hire me, it' obviously going to be because of my eyebrows, then I will hunt her down and do her eyebrows for her. See how she likes it!

posted at 12:53 AM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Sunday, July 29, 2007

I have bacterial conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye:



AND I just recently got kicked off of my parents' health insurance. Yay!

posted at 10:40 AM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Nothing fun or interesting has been happening lately. I'm trying to sell CDs, there's a show tomorrow at the Barnes & Noble in Holmdel at 8pm and if Katie doesn't go I hate her, I realized I spelled Holmdel Homdel on posters I made up, I read Harry Potter and I can't wait for the movie, I'm reading the Three Musketeers and mmm I love those chocolate bars and wish I had one right now, and also I wish I had a job, I also wish I had friends.

posted at 11:30 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

JP's a two-fisted eater (cupcake in his left hand, ice cream sandwich in his right).

posted at 10:11 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Saturday, July 14, 2007

So, Dan has decided not to go to Disney World, but I haven't beaten him up... yet. Today at Katie and Steven's graduation party, JP overcame his fear of scooby-doos, now called kitties. PS: and it really sounds like "titty." We'll have to work on that with him.

posted at 9:49 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Know what's funny? That thing I told you of earlier, with Dan only buying stuff for himself if he also buys something for me, is crap. He bought a new vest and a scarf (it's summer!), and I got nothing. Dan is smelly, but he's going to Disney World so I can't get mad (and if he says he won't go then I will beat him up).

posted at 12:03 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Wow, the comments work, what is up with that?

My dad had me make a million copies of the article in the newspaper to send to family, and when I asked if I could have some envelopes to send them out he asked why I couldn't just email them the article. This is my dad in a nutshell. Well, I think you need to hear intonation, etc. to get the whole effect.

PS: Jimmy Buffett was awesome, in case you wanted to know.

posted at 9:30 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

I was in the Star Ledger today (Sunday) for Art for Autism! You can read the article here or download a scan of the article by clicking here.

posted at 5:09 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Friday, June 29, 2007

Dan came up with this great idea that he'll only buy new clothes if he also buys me something too. Now, instead of the result being that I get lots new clothes, Dan just stops buying clothes altogether.

posted at 10:56 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Worst day ever, yesterday. Apparently I'm really bad at keeping friends and I'm out $200, that's in addition to my car. YAY! Hopefully tonight's listening party will cheer me up even though I can't drink because I have to be able to count money, and I'm not sociable. Doesn't sound too good.

Let's see... happy things. Well, I'm going to see Ratatouille! And going to AC tomorrow for Jimmy Buffett! Maybe dad will give me money to gamble and I can win money to pay off my loans. HAHAHAHHA!

posted at 10:44 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I am back from Europe. Europe was a blast. I will post pictures eventually. Because I have about 600 pictures, I think I might use an online picture place instead of making it all pretty here. Too much work. Now it is time to find a real job.

Today I baked a blueberry pie. Here is a picture of its beauty.

Also today my clutch decided to get stuck and not work. Pep Boys says they don't know what the problem is, and in order to find out what the problem is they'll have to charge me $475! YAY! And I just bought a new camera after sitting on my old one and cracking the LCD screen. I will work for free for the next month.

Check out the Amanda section to hire me!

posted at 8:12 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Friday, April 27, 2007

I just bought a ukulele and a glockenspiel. I am nuts! But I want to play around with them...

posted at 8:21 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Haha, when you google "French military victories," click the first link and see what happens. It would be better if it were actually google, though, like the jerks who I subbed yesterday said. Maybe they could have redeemed themselves for being a bunch of brats.

Dan's done with school so now he's ready to be the best boyfriend ever. I can't start thinking of graduating until all these finals are over. POOOO!

posted at 8:52 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, April 26, 2007

I was a substitute teacher today, and today is the day that I learned that I will never be a teacher for real. Keep in mind, though, that I'm a big baby. Kids just don't listen to me, and I get pissed about that. Then they have to have a fist fight in front of me because some loser decided to pour a bottle of water on another kid. When this occured, I pretended to get books out of my bag and cried, well, wept. You may think this is melodramatic, and it probably is, but it's just so frustrating. Why do kids have to be jerks? Someone teach me to be a mean sub.

posted at 2:38 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

I rented High School Musical to see what all the fuss was about. Usually I like Disney Channel Original Movies; I must say I was disappointed with this one. It's not like the good old days of Brink and Motocross. Actually, those days didn't last very long. Anywho, I don't see how the HSM soundtrack lasted so long on the charts. Just goes to show who's buying music and who's downloading it.

posted at 3:21 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Monday, February 19, 2007

I wish my life wasn't so boring so that my website wouldn't be so boring. I am in the Art History library because my Art History class was cancelled, thinking I would do some work 'till my next class. You're not surprised that this didn't end up happening. Well, in the Art History library, behind me at the next table is a kid I went to Paris with two summers ago for those two Art History classes I took there. He's ignoring me. I find that people like to ignore people that they think it might be awkward to talk to. This makes sense. But then I decided that I should be friendly and not hate people who don't exactly deserve it. A couple of days ago a girl in my theory class came into Barnes and Noble, and I said, "Hey, you're in my theory class" and she said, "yeah..." and walked away. It was a good time. I don't particularly like her because she has an annoying voice and sounds retarded when she contributes in class. But she's very talkative to the boys that sit around her (though she's not attractive), so I thought she might say hi back. Well I think this is why she was a bitch, because she only talks to boys. Well whatever, I hate you ! Well, I don't mind this kid sitting behind me in the Art History library ignoring me because I already hate him.

posted at 5:19 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, February 11, 2007

My mom gave me my Valentine's Day present early so that I could wear it on Wednesday. It's a t-shirt from target that says "Je T'aime" on it. I'm excited.

I have two papers due tomorrow and one due on Wednesday. And instead of writing them I am updating a blog that nobody reads ! I'm SMART !

2-hour 24 tomorrow, set those VCRs.

posted at 8:06 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Scratch that, back to the original plan of Manhattan. I know you care, but I am bored and too much of a procrastinator to do school work.

posted at 1:16 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Sunday, February 04, 2007

I hate school so much that I can't stop planning things that are 4 and 6 months away. I should probably be doing school work so that I can ensure that this semester is indeed my last. But since I've already planned, here are my plans: Dan and I are going to Europe after graduating 'till mid-June, then we are looking for jobs (hooray!). Then we are getting an apartment in Brooklyn. We really really wanted to live in Manhattan, but a studio in the East Village is the same price as a 2 bedroom in Brooklyn, plus I've got a lot of stuff/crap. So we'll settle and hope for the best. You can leave comments of encouragement if you so please. We are looking at: Brooklyn Heights, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, and (of course) Williamsburg. If you know anything about these areas we welcome your input! It's time to update the good ol' "lifeaftercollege.doc."

Seriously, though, worst semester ever. 6 classes. Lit Seminar (the rhetoric of activism!), lit theory (speaks for itself), French (I'm Frenched out), the Water Planet (I haven't even gone since the first day of class), Impressionism (teacher is horrid), and Ballet (I suck).

Tom Warren and I have a radio show on Mondays from 12-2pm called the Totally Awesome Tom and Amanda show. Judge for yourself, I suppose. You can listen at the Core.

I'm scared of getting a job.

posted at 12:21 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Monday, January 15, 2007

Oooooooh man, 24 !

posted at 12:18 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, January 06, 2007

This past week I was in Houston for the Rutgers Texas Bowl game, because I am such a huge football/Rutgers fan. But it was free yummy food for a week, and dad buying me drinks. I learned over the course of last week that I love Bailey's Irish Cream. It is so yummy and thus so easy to get tipsy off of, which is fun when the only company you have is dad and JP. I am a little upset, though, that I love it so much, because now that I'm back home, in order to drink it I have to be rich. I guess I will just have to go on vacations that I don't really care about 'till I win the lottery.

posted at 1:22 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Last night my dad's new driver fell asleep at the wheel and collided into a Cadillac dealer and subsequently drove and crashed on top of 5 Escalades. Probably one of the few times JP shouting, "Cadillac car !" was not deemed cute. The kicker is who dad's new driver is.

posted at 8:54 PM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Why does everyone like the Hold Steady so much? I don't get it.

posted at 11:34 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, October 19, 2006

The only way to stop Jose JoseJoseJose was to sit on him.

posted at 9:29 AM by Amanda. {2 comments}

Monday, October 09, 2006

I was in Disney World last week because I work best under pressure (and also for Mary's wedding). And now with that week off I have 3 weeks of homework to catch up on. I love this the best. Well anyway, in Florida there are these crazy gross bugs.

And they are always mating. Rarely do you see one alone. Only in May and September do they come about so massively as we saw them. At one time there's 10-20 bugs on a bench, which is actually 20-40. And the buses' windshields were COVERED with them. It looked as though they had been driving cross country for 7 months without going through the carwash. So, yes, gross. We were told that they were an experiment by the University of Florida to get rid of mosquitoes. But it went wildly out of hand and the bugs started mating like crazy and now they take over the world every May and September. Unfortunately, good ol' Wikipedia explains that this is a myth. I thought it was a pretty good story.

posted at 10:30 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

So school has officially started and it is officially no fun at all. 8 hour days. Rain. Exams when I'm in Disney World. Dinosaurian paleobiology and evolution.

Hey let's go Mets !

posted at 10:31 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Saturday, August 05, 2006

I'm crazy. I wish I wasn't, but I am. And when I find myself in situations where I know I'm being crazy, I continue being crazy instead of pausing. then stopping. then calming down.

posted at 10:15 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Attention people who read this (Katie, this means you ... sometimes): Hot Chip. This Friday, the Seaport LES. Free. Fun. COME!

posted at 6:46 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Today has partly been redeemed because course materials were released today for the upcoming fall semester. Planning is #3 on my list of favorite things to do. Now I'm off to Barnes and Noble! Hooray!

posted at 6:45 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

I must have terrible luck with bikes. When I was dorming, I locked my bike up to the bike rack outside my dorm. The next day, the entire bike rack, along with my bike, was thrown over the side of the building and into the parking lot below. I got a new awesome wonderful bike from Dan for Christmas two years ago, and have treasured every ride upon it. Today I came home from delivering bread and it is no longer locked up to the porch. It has disappeared entirely. I am so sad. I feel like I might cry.

posted at 7:23 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, May 20, 2006

I got an A on my final project EP for my American Road Cultures class. The EP I can't let anyone hear. Cool!

posted at 11:52 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Monday, April 17, 2006

The Dan and Amanda Band will be putting out an EP on April 29th. It is a project for my American Road Cultures class, and will therefore not be available for purchase or download. If it was, it'd breaks copyright laws. So I suppose I'm just letting you know that we are alive, and sooner or later we'll make some music.

posted at 2:24 PM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Today I passed by Mark Rynone's house. In fourth grade the girls were crowded around him and they tried to guess the color of his house. Blue? Nope. White? Nope. From stalking him, I knew it was grey. I was so proud.

On a similar note, in third grade Mark liked the Power Rangers. So in fourth grade I was the pink power ranger for Halloween. Then he made fun of me. I hate him now.

posted at 12:17 AM by Amanda. {3 comments}

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

My roommate Megan (aka the most annoying person ever) is going for a job interview today. She is chanting to herself "You are the best. You are the best. You are the best."

posted at 9:49 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Thursday, February 23, 2006

FROM THE OFFICIAL WEEZER.COM:

...weezer fansite link shout-out: Today (weezer day) is the relaunch of fansite titan weerez.com. This site is the result of a content merger and subsequent upgrade from the original weerez.com and the '05 phenom site weezer.se. Weezer.se is now a fully Swedish fansite, while Weerez.com is handling the role of "king of the fansites", for now and hopefully for a long time coming! (But dont count out 'across the weez' either!)

I know he's talking about the new weerez.com, but Karl also harkens back to the memory of my weerez.com. Wow, I was famous!

posted at 10:19 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Saturday, October 15, 2005

I touched Dave Grohl.
DAVE GROHL WAS IN NIRVANA!

posted at 12:49 AM by Amanda. {0 comments}

Friday, September 30, 2005

"Everytime I see my poop, I wanna eat it. Is that weird?" -Dan

posted at 5:13 PM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Hahah, woops.


^ Click there.

posted at 11:55 AM by Amanda. {1 comments}

Saturday, September 10, 2005

I don't know why all you cool "scenesters" don't like Bloc Party. I think they're amazing and awfully fun. But you're too cool for them. And all you say is that they're "bad." WTF does bad mean? How articulate you hipsters are today!

posted at 2:44 AM by Amanda. {3 comments}