I really really really really really really really really really really want to make this. I wonder how important the espresso powder is? It looks like they're just making espresso with it.
- Meg V. Meg
Meg, I can get you expresso powder ... but you have to send me a piece of cake :D
- Shannon - GlassMistress
I've found that espresso really helps to enhance the flavor of the chocolate, Meg. I would try to include it if you can.
- Derrick
I recently bought some espresso powder. I might have to try this.
- Katy S
Baking with chocolate is the reason I ever started buying espresso powder to begin with. Like Derrick said, it really helps to enhance the flavor of the chocolate like WHOA. I've been known to put it in my ganache. And then watch people cum while eating it.
- Hookuh Tinypants
espresso powder-- is that just finely ground coffee beans?
- RudĩϐЯaЯïan
Not quite: "Espresso powder is very intensely dark and concentrated instant coffee. It's not just coffee beans ground fine. It's actually coffee crystals that dissolve quickly in liquid." More here: http://www.thekitchn.com/pantry-...
- Derrick
After I spent all that time downloading digital copies of his movies on there. It still works but the last thing I wanted to deal with before this trip!
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
I groan about the defensive driving course my company makes me take every year, but last night when a FJ Cruiser going the wrong way on the highway smacked the dodge neon head on and started flipping towards us at 70 mph...it was my following distance that allowed us to live last night. #grateful.
What a difference one second makes. We went down it the ditch and luckily didn't flip our vehicle. We got back up to the shoulder and called the highway patrol. My wife was in tears and just said "Thank you for saving our lives." The dodge neon was straddling the concrete divider and the entire right side of the vehicle was gone.
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
I kept talking the the driver of the dodge who was in and out of consciousness until emergency crews got there. Both drivers were awake and taken by helicopter. My thoughts are with them both. My youngest boy was in the back seat and had no clue what we just went through. All I could think about was if we get hit that my wife and son survive me.
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
@Ha3rvey (Still here): thank you, my friend. We are very fortunate! I wonder if I have to report it to work as a near miss?
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
Wow, I'm glad you guys are okay. My dad's defensive driving teaching has saved my life before, as well. I recommend it to anyone, no matter where or how much you drive.
- Starmama
from FFHound(roid)!
I am so glad that you and your family came away from that safe! I hope the other drivers and their passengers are okay.
- Fish Are LIES
Glad things worked out for you and your family as well as they did. Even so, an event like that is traumatic. It's a blessing that your son wasn't fully aware of what transpired. I suggest you all engage in group hugs early and often.
- Jkram|ɯɐɹʞſ
Take care, that's quite frightening just to read. Like Vicster said hope everyone recovers.
- SteVe C
my heart was in my throat just reading this I am so glad everything worked out.
- VALZ/TEAM TRAVIS
"Two earthquakes rattled North Texas within 10 minutes late Saturday night. The U.S. Geological Survey confirms a magnitude 3.4 earthquake occured at 11:05:01 p.m. The USGS listed the epicenter at 32.847°N, 96.956°W. That's just southwest of Las Colinas Country Club near North McArthur Blvd. and West Rochelle Road. It was southeast of DFW International Airport."
- Ha3rvey #teamMonique
from Bookmarklet
Look for Swiss one - would probably have to go online - but that would actually be pretty as well as useful. My parents have one hanging by their back door.
- Sarah G.
That was my question too- real cowbell or electronic doorbell that sounds like cowbell?
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
You ever have that time where you go to pick up a small child who is crying at 2 AM, you scoop them up in your arms to comfort them and you are hit with a stream of vomit in the face? You are fighting your own gag reflex and remembering its not good to drop the mini Linda Blair while acidic muck is now beneath your feet. Yeah, that.
Ended up sleeping in the guest bedroom after going through all 3 sets of linens for our bed throughout the night. I may just burn them and go buy new ones.
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
Today's the first day of me in my new position. I'm pretty much catching up on old work and was surprised that with the new responsibilities that I'm rolling into, I also get a new office, more vacation time, and other things that come with full time employment. So...that's awesome.
Thanks, y'all. So much has happened in a really short span of time. I dare say all the stuff about school that I was complaining about (and y'all who put up with me know...) has led to all of this.
- Derrick
Do they give you lavender honey ice cream, too? Cos that would be awesome.
- Chris Z.
No ice cream, but I get to teach and do outreach and I'm in the middle of planning a game night and an Open Access week situation!
- Derrick
haha, bring it, Sarah. I plan on having pizza for the students as well. :)
- Derrick
Outstanding! Also well deserved. "Those who risk much are rewarded equally." - me, just now.
- c.a.j.
from FFHound!
I know people post videos and we normally just skip over them, but this animated video is truly amazing work and I promise is worth the look.
http://vimeo.com/m/44583147
i'm liking apples, and my last couple have had pecans. i like almonds too. i am trying to get more creative, but keep it simple (because i am lazy). Meg, i always love garlic. always.
- holly #ravingfangirl
I'm boring and normally go with cucumber or celery for crunch. Or nuts. I like nuts in my salads. ETA: and also water chestnuts. It depends on my mood and the salad.
- Katy S
I really like adding those canned mandarin orange segments to salads too.
- Rodfather
Non-crunchy things - fruits of all sorts for added moisture. I find I use less salad dressing when I have fruit like grapes, mandarin oranges, etc. on my salads.
- Katy S
Fruits would be good, plus GOOD tomatoes, red bell peppers, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, Craisins . . . I'm thinking of doing a salad tomorrow that's tomatoes, hearts of palm, artichokes and strawberries. No need for lettuce.
- Mary B: #TeamMonique
Oh yeah. Sun-dried tomatoes are good. Chewy and sweet.
- Rodfather
Hearts of palm, corn, peas, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, and if I'm feeling really wild I'll add some lettuce.
- Kevin Fox
Cold peas. Rinsed black beans. White corn kernels.
- Lnorigb
from FFHound!
Slivered raw almonds and dried orange-flavored cranberries, both from Trader Joe's. I had a great salad back east that had strawberries, mango and dried cranberries with pecans over spinach. So damn tasty. Making my own dressings - either vinaigrettes or Greek yogurt-based dressings.
- Corinne L
jicama, bacon, green peas, Goldfish crackers, (well the peas have more pop than crunch) are some of my favorites for crunch in salads.
- Starmama
from FFHound(roid)!
Ingredients- 1 head cauliflower, 1/4 C olive oil, salt and pepper, red chili flakes 1/2-1 t, (depending on your taste) 2 T lemon juice, 1 T chopped fresh flat leaf parsley for garnish Cut your cauliflower into 1.5 inch florets, put your oven on broil (500 degrees) In bowl drizzle olive oil over florets, season with salt and pepper. Arrange on cookie sheet spread out in single layer....
more...
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
I'll double cheek, but I think Thursday would be good for me.
- maʀtha
If it is nice out, we could go to the seafood place in the park: http://seasalteatery.wordpress.com/. Then, you could hear Janet say "Minnehaha". The fried oysters are yummy.
- maʀtha
There's lots of other great choices of restaurants, of course.
- maʀtha
Fred has suggested that earlier might be better for us than later just because of our trek to Eau Claire. Do we want to eat in the Cities or outside of them? Where will everyone be coming from?
- LB: #TeamMonique
Martha? Lisa? Where will you be? (I know where Iris works. Bwahahahaha.)
- LB: #TeamMonique
I'll be coming from Maple Plain. I work until 7, at least, on Tuesdays, though. This does not bode well for Fred's suggestion of an earlier dinner. :( I will happily buy LB & Fred a coffee or two for the road if y'all stick around long enough for me to squeeze your guts out. :D
- Lisa | #TeamMonique
from FFHound(roid)!
I think we can meet early for everyone else, and talk bad about Lisa until she gets there. Then we can be nice to her after she gets there.
- Ha3rvey #teamMonique
The drive up Highway 61 from Eau Claire is lovely. I'd suggest Mai Village in St Paul but light rail construction on University Ave is awful #nexttime
- WarLord
That sounds about right, Ha3rvey... You're lucky you're so darn cute. Almost as cute as I am. :P Seriously, though, y'all do what you have to do, but know that LB & Fred are not allowed to depart until I, at least, get to squeeze them.
- Lisa | #TeamMonique
from FFHound(roid)!
Any further suggestions on where to dine? Fred and I will start our day at the airport and Mall of America.
- LB: #TeamMonique
I work until 6 PM near downtown St. Paul.
- maʀtha
So, it takes about 2 hours to get from Minneapolis to Eau Claire, so Fred and Laura probably want to leave around 8 (as soon as they've been squeezed, that is). So we should plan on getting to a restaurant around 6 or 6:30 (if we choose the earlier time, we can hold a seat for Martha). So that's half a plan. The other half is where to meet, and on this I'm entirely indifferent and unknowledgeable, so someone else will have to suggest a place.
- lris
Can we shoot for 6 and save seats for Martha and Lisa?
- LB: #TeamMonique
I was going to suggest one of Martha's favorites, the Midtown Global Market, but then I remembered that this would mean a lot of wandering to choose food and therefore relatively less time all sitting together. Other than that, though, I won't be able to actually EAT wherever we go, so I probably shouldn't choose. :-)
- lris
Other than the seafood thing mentioned above, I'm not terribly picky.
- LB: #TeamMonique
People who actually eat in the cities, I'm disappointed in you! Here's what I propose: if someone who eats in the cities regularly tells us where to go, we'll do that, meeting at 6pm and saving places for Martha and Lisa. If they don't, we'll meet at the Punch at Lake Calhoun: Address at Calhoun Village Shopping Center 3226 W Lake St Minneapolis MN 55416 612.929.0006
- lris
Harvey and Huntur have already been to Punch once last week, but I'm fresh out of ideas. So. People who actually eat in the cities, please feel free to chime in, as long as you do it before Laura goes to bed tonight (since she'll be traveling early tomorrow).
- lris
Tonight I shall have soft serve with an olive oil drizzle for dinner. So excited, y'all! I love arriving in time for dessert... and for all of the squeezing. :D
- Lisa | #TeamMonique
from FFHound(roid)!
Okie dokie, I'll get there as soon as I can, which will likely be closer to 7
- maʀtha
Unless I get a massive surge of energy, I'm afraid I'll have to miss tonight after all. Stupid energy crashes. Harumph.
- lris
At least the officiating is a little more balanced tonight. The other day they would have given Fisher a T for flagrant loose ball tie-up.
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
I think Van Gundy is one of the best color commentators.
- Rodfather
Crazy game. It's going to be tough for OKC to come back from a 3-1 deficit. Next game in Miami and if OKC can survive, the last 2 games in OKC.
- Rodfather
I'm thinking about getting a mandoline/slicer. Do any of you have one or a particular brand that you prefer? There are so many options that my head's starting to spin.
I have an oxo one that I really like.
- Mary Carmen
the one i have is from Pampered Chef. it's pretty good but has a few quirks. i keep thinking about getting a different one myself.
- holly #ravingfangirl
I've been thinking about getting one too so I went to the Chef's Catalog store to look at several but didn't like how any of them felt. They felt flimsy, even the $100 one.
- Elena
We finally went with deBuyer, purchased at Sonoma and Williams. I had four different brands, lost the side of my finger on one style. Hated the Pampered Chef for the cost versus lack of really thin slice option. I prefer my bread and butter pickles to be all but paper thin. We are super pleased with the deBuyer.
- Janet:#TeamMonique
from FFHound!
Janet - I see that they have several of that brand on their website. Which one did you get?
- Katy S
I've been watching YT for the past 6 months on them and I think I like OXO's though I don't like their stuff, in general. Their mandoline, though looks great and a friend who has one said it's way more rugged than their other stuff.
- Anika
I can't say I /like/ my Progressive mandoline, but it was only $10... I think at the high end, Shun's is supposed to have a really nice blade.
- Andrew C (✓)
It says "swing" it says 99.95 cost on the bar code. Will send a picture to you.
- Janet:#TeamMonique
from FFHound!
Just realized I wasn't subbed to you. I can be clueless at times.
- Katy S
I think that I see you in enough rooms/groups that I didn't realize it.
- Katy S
We also have a pampered chef one. It's a little bulky but it has a place for different slicing attachments built in which is nice.
- adf
I loved my very first slicer, purchased from TV and sharp as hell. No storage option and this is the one that took part of my finger tip. From there I purchased a generic, then Pampered Chef. Again, it depends on how you will use it. I do a lot of canning (beets and pickles) and this has worked very well for me.
- Janet:#TeamMonique
I have a OXO stainless steel version that I've used for a few years and like it pretty well. I would recommend getting a knife glove as an added precaution. I don't know many people who have never added a little blood to a dish using one. ;)
- huntur (hotspacho)
from FFHound!
I would definitely second getting a knife glove for it.
- Andrew C (✓)
I think I have an oxo one too? I recommend anti-cut gloves, I wear them every time I use it and that's probably already saved at least one trip to the ER.
- Hedgehog
Thanks everyone! The gloves do sounds like a good idea, too.
- Katy S
Just made 20 minute cinnamon rolls out of Pilsbury crescent roll dough. Unrolled it, threw some brown sugar, cinnamon and butter on top. Rolled, baked 15 minutes. Whipped some cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon into a frosting. Slapped it on. NOM!