Sunday, January 30, 2011

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

5 Things I have Learned from My Dogs
Being cute will only get you so far, personality will take you all the way

It's okay to hide out and regroup in order to come back in full force


Laugh till you feel it in your toes


Allow yourself to have some fun

Happiness really is a warm puppy..or two...or three...

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Salivating Saturday

I'll admit it, I am a soft pretzel junkie. I LOVE them. The warm bread, a little mustard...I'm in heaven. I have always wanted to make them but thought they were just too much work. Well, they are a little work, but they are worth it and really, it doesn't take that much time. See, I'll show you.


Easy Like a Sunday Morning Soft Pretzels

Ingredients
* 2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast
* 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1 cup warm water
* 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
* Vegetable oil, for baking sheets
* 3 tablespoons baking soda
* 1 tablespoon coarse salt-again, I used sea salt

Directions:
Mix yeast, coarse salt, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl, whisking until sugar dissolves. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Pour flour in a  large bowl. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Slowly pour yeast mixture over flour mixture, stirring to combine. Using your hands, gather dough together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until it is no longer sticky, about 5 minutes.

Cover with plastic, and let rise for 30 minutes.

Cut dough into 12 pieces, and roll each into an 18-inch rope. Form a U shape with 1 rope, and twist ends together twice. Fold twisted portion backward along center of U shape to form a circle, then gently press ends of rope onto dough to seal.

Transfer to an oiled baking sheet, and repeat. Let rise for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 475 degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add baking soda. Boil pretzels in batches until puffed and slightly shiny, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to wire racks to drain. I suggest using chopsticks to navigate your pretzels, I didn't and they didn't come out very pretty.

Return to baking sheet, sprinkle with pretzel salt, and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Pretzels will keep, uncovered, at room temperature for up to 12 hours. Rewarm in a 250-degree oven if desired. Do not put pretzels in tupperware or cover, they will get soggy. Trust me, they will not last longer than 12 hours. You will gobble them all up!


One thing that I did notice is that my pretzels were super thick!  Definitely roll the dough to 18 inches+, unless you want big fatties.  Also, mine didn't turn out the prettiest, but they were mighty tasty.

This is a very basic recipe, so go a little wild and try out different seasonings. Now I just need to find a mug of beer and some mustard.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Feel Good Friday!

 
It feels like it has been so long since I've done a Feel Good Friday! I've been so bad! How dare work take over my fun time. Anyhoo....the weekend is here and I'm starting you off with this...



HA HA HA! I hope I didn't scare you off! Just had to relive my teenager years. Now that you have your air guitars tuned up, let's see what else I have for you.

Have you checked out my friend Becky's Blog? No, well you should. Why, cause she like Mary Tyler Moore and every time I think of her blog I do my best Mary Tyler Moore impression.

Do you know Merwing? No? Well you should, and buy her books cause they are rad. 

I really need this mug. The Animal Rescue shop donates a percentage of their profits to help animals in shelters. The site has a lot of great pet and non pet items.

This should make up for the Loverboy video. 

Have an awesome weekend!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Puppies, Puppies Everywhere!

These patterns are just too cute for words! I love the little puppies on TV.

Monday, January 24, 2011

It's a Rockin' Twistin' Good Time

Hey all you hip kids! Time to jump up out of that chair and get to rocking!


I can't not believe that I have not talked about this movie before. I LOVE Rock Around the Clock. A down and out music promoter runs into a pair of dancers and the amazing Bill Haley and the Comets in a small town while on his way to find the next big thing. Enter a shrewd business woman who wants to have it all (how dare her) including the music promoter, the music and the little dancing vixen out of the way. The music is rockin' and the lingo is even better.


Don't Knock the Rock came out at the same time and again includes a small town, a pair of dancing siblings and a promoter trying to let the world know that rock n' roll is here to stay. Once again we see Bill Haley but as an extra bonus we get Little Richard. OOOOOOHHHHH! Don't tell me you didn't just yell that when I said Little Richard.


A few years down the line and guess what? Rock n' roll is out and the Twist is in! Go Chubby, get your twist on. Both Twist Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Twist are exact replicas of their predecessors with one change-everyone is doing the Twist. When I mean that is the only thing that is different, I truly mean it. The dialogue is the exact same, just substitute Twist for Rock n' Roll. I'm not kidding. A few personnel changes and the use of an eraser and you have a new movie.Even though the movies are the exact same, I still watch them when they come on. I just love a good hip shakin'.


So whether you are a rock n' roll greaser or a twisting fool, these movies are the ones for you. They whisk you away to a forgotten time of hot cars, sassy women, and musical dinner clubs. A time when hip shaking was innocent and people were clothed  - and that my friend...isn't so bad.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

I can't believe my little babies are all grown up.


How could I resist such a little girl
 And then she grew up...
Then Lola had Jujube...
No matter if they are puppies or old ladies...
I love my golden girls...

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tie One On Tuesday

Man, I am TIRED! I can't believe that I am so tired that I don't want even mix up a cocktail. Where's OMP at? Mama needs a cocktail. Oh OMP? Hello! Dang! He's no where to be found-I'm sure he's hiding out in the basement. I guess I will just have to move my butt off the couch and mix something up myself.

Let's see....I need something to wake me up...

Oh my goodness! Does this bring back the days when I could stay up all hours of the night and not worry about only have two hours of sleep.

Flori's Hot Tub Heaven
1 oz peppermint schnapps (does this bring back memories of high school and college)
1 oz amaretto
3 oz Irish cream
3 oz coffee
Add in order from light to heavy finishing with coffee. No mixing required.


Whew, I think I need a chaser after that drink. Something to take the peppermint taste out of my mouth.

Coffee Chaser
1/2 oz coffee liqueur
1/2 oz orange liqueur
5 oz hot black coffee
1 1/2 oz whipped cream
1 tsp sugar
Pour coffee and liquor into an Irish coffee cup and sweeten to taste. Gently float the cream on top

 Ahh....that's much better, but now I'm all hopped up on coffee! One more cocktail to calm me down and put me to sleep. Let's see...aww, forget it! Just give me a bottle of 3 buck Chuck and I'm off to bed. Until next week my cocktail campers....zzzzzzzzzzzz.........

Thursday, January 13, 2011

I Love My Friends

Wanna know what I love? I love that my friend Becky sends me awesome patterns that I can share with you.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Tie One On Tuesday

Every since we got The Hub channel, I have been obsessed with the old 60s TV show Batman. It is so awesomely bad that I just can not resist it. Of course I had to find a cocktail to go along with my comic book TV hero obsession.

I just love mixing up a pitcher of The Dark Knight while I turn on my HiFi and do the batussi.

The Dark Knight
1 1/2 oz Sambuca
4 oz Coca Cola
1/2 oz Grenadine
Mix in a highball glass over ice, topping off with grenadine as float. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Hulk smash! No wonder! He's all hopped up on Mountain Dew!

The Hulk
2 oz. Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
1tbsp Sugar
Mountain Dew soda

Begin with ice, add the Captain Morgan to a glass with sugar, then add Mountain Dew until the mix turns green.

We can't leave all the superhero drinking to the men. The Wonder Woman may sound sweet but it packs a punch.

The Wonder Woman
2 oz. Midori melon liqueur
2 oz. Peach schnapps
3 oz. Orange juice
1 oz. Pineapple juice
2 oz. Cranberry juice
Fill hurricane glass with ice. Add ingredients in order listed. Don't stir! Should have three layers; green, orange, and red. Garnish with a cherry.


There ya go! Three cocktails that, after a few sips, will make you feel like a superhero. Just remember 1.) You can not fly 2.) You do not have super powers and 3,) Tights and underwear are not a good substitute for a heroes costume. Until next time kiddies! 

Monday, January 10, 2011

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Oh my poor friends in the South. They are getting pelted with a horrible snowstorm. All I'm getting in in my neck of the woods is rain. rain, rain, rain...where's my snow? Well, even though I'm getting drizzles, I can watch these wonderful movies about snow.


I'm not sure how my friends up North handle the cold weather. I like to think of them all talking like Francis McDormand in Fargo and enjoying the the fricassee while warming themselves by the fire. Kidnapping, murder via wood chipper and one pregnant cop makes this winter wonderland a bit surreal but the dark humor keeps us coming back for more.


You can not talk about snow on celluloid without bringing up The Shining. A little known fact, the outside of the lodge used in the movie is Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood right here in  Oregon. Yep, our claim to fame is a crazy killer and some scary twins. Jack Nicholson gives a command performance as deranged writer Jack Torrence. The snow maze scene is prolific with the threat of death against the pure white snow. Make sure you don't watch this one alone.


Last but not least is one of my favorite "B" horror movies, The Thing From Another World. This 1951 Sci-Fi thriller has the Air Force fighting off strange beings in a remote Arctic region of the world. Things start getting crazy when they take the alien predator back to their base and thaw him out. Here's a little hint-if you find something strange, buried in the snow-LEAVE IT ALONE!  Just swat it to the ground and yell, "I don't think so!"

Brrrr! I'm getting cold just thinking about these movies. I'm gonna crank up the furnace, huddle the pups close to me and sip a nice warm beverage. Stay warm my southern friends! You will miss these days when it's 110 in the shade and you're dripping with sweat.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Lola always tries to let everyone think that she's not a fan of Pete. I know better...
Look deep into her eyes, there's love. Oh sure, it may look like annoyance and disgust but below that is pure sisterly love.

PS-notice the way Lola is sitting-it's killing me.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Things

During the day, when I'm feeling sad, I just look at this...


...then I'm not so sad anymore.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tie One On Tuesday

picture courtesy of Jane Fader

Whew! We made it to the new year! Now it's time to hunker in for the winter and enjoy the fire. Speaking of fire...

Do you feel a burning sensation? I mean when you drink!  No, well then, drink this up and you will, then get to the doctor and get some cream for that itch. HA! I crack myself up...hey, why am I hearing crickets? Hello......

The Fireball
3/4 oz white rum
3/4 oz cinnamon schnapps
3 dashes Texas Pete sauce
Pour everything into a shaker with ice, shake well and strain into a shot glass. Shoot as directed.


See if you can stomach this for 8 seconds. Give me the real bull any day. It actually reminds me of something Homer Simpson would drink when his jaw was wired shut.

Bull Shot
1 1/2 oz vodka
dash of Worchestershire, Tabasco, salt and pepper to taste
celery salt (optional)
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.


This last cocktail will do nothing but cause a toxic waste dumpsite in your stomach,  it will peel the paint off of walls, it will make you see colors you didn't even know existed. You have been warned....

Old Fashion Hell
1 1/2 oz pepper vodka
1 1/2 cinnamon schnapps
Pour both into an old fashion glass, stir slightly and serve with caution.

Well folks, there ya have it. A little something to put a fire in your belly and warm you up on a cold night. Just one of these fine cocktails will have you breathing fire in no time! I'm not even going to say what it's gonna do to your lower intestines...have fun with that one.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Sometimes pictures don't go as planned. Here are a few things you shouldn't do when trying to take your pup's picture. 


Don't put the dog treat on the camera.

Don't take picture of the pups after they have done something they are not proud of.

Don't take the picture of your dog in a compromising position. 

I really need to send my pups to fancy boy modeling school.