“If you’re afraid of butter, just use cream.”

Is anyone else completely amped about the upcoming movie Julie & Julia?? I hadn't even seen the trailer, and I was speed-texting my friend, Pringles, about how we needed to see it. She and I are forever discussing recipes and foods and the like, so I figured she'd be a shoe-in to watch it with me.

Here's the plot synopsis: Julia is Julia Child. Enough said! Julie Powell is a real-life woman who decides to take on the challenge of making every recipe in Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She then wrote a book about her conquests, and it was made into a film.

I love cooking. I love Amy Adams. I love girly movies. Hip, Hip, Hurrah!!

Julie & Julia movie trailer

Grocery Rage

Anyone else miss this show? I coulda been a rockin contestant.

I entered the store in a peaceful and sunny mood. The woman walking in with me was cheerful and friendly and made me smile. And the first thing I noticed was a scattering of cheese samples. Yummo! I practiced some self-control and only sampled one, tiny piece (way to go, sraa!*). Then I carefully made my way over the butcher counter to pick up some seafood and shellfish for dinner. Again, yummo!

The second I walked up to the counter, I could sense that an evil force was trying to wreak havoc on my serenity. A woman there stepped up after me, ignored the semblance of a line we had going, and elbowed her way up to the meat case. Unbelievable. (Is it just me or does SoCal's population have the biggest sense of self-entitlement going?) Lucky for me and nanner-nanner-poo-poo for her, I was making eye contact with the butcher as he walked up and asked, "Who's next?" Ms. All Elbows missed the boat as she was critically scanning the selection of meats in the case. Karma, baby!

After my stint at the butcher case, I was immediately bumped into by a person and then by a cart. This was while I was standing stock-still, trying to pick out some ground sirloin. And nary an apology to be heard. From there, it just went downhill. The store's aisles were littered with dropped (and squished) produce, screaming 3 year olds, abandoned shopping carts, and women with bad attitude written all over their faces. My hair is decidedly frumpy today, but that certainly shouldn't earn me ugly looks from the general public.

My only motivation to stay in the store - and not run away as fast as these pink paisley flats could carry me - was my huge annoyance with making multiple trips to stores. I knew that I had to stick it out long enough to at least gather ingredients for a salad. (And even then, the store was out of the greens I usually buy.)

It seems that today has just been one of those days. As Chiml was singing me (over IM, of course):**

It's just one of those days that a girl goes through
When I'm angry inside,
Don't wanna take it out on you.
Just one of them things.
Don't take it personal.
I just wanna be all alone
And you think I treat you wrong.
Don't take it personal
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.
Don't take it personal.


* sraa is yet another of my alter egos. I'm up to at least 3 named personae by now, so brownie points to you if you can remember the other names :)

** I'd embed the youtube clip for this song, but it appears that I've lost youtube connectivity along with my iTunes connectivity. The IT people here have no idea how ugly I'll get when I'm cut off from music.

Oregon Trail, All Grown Up

I'm feeling quite old-timey today, as I sit here in my drapey, destructed cardigan, with two enormous containers of raisins within reach. Wait - raisins?

I agreed to drive my coworker to the airport the other day, and he offered to pay me for my trouble. No way. I was raised to help people out, especially when it's something I can easily do with minimal impact on my normal goings-on. His family owns a vineyard and almond orchards, so he offered to bring me something from their farm.

And, slap my mama - I have a bag of beautiful almonds that must weigh 8 pounds. And, goodness, it will take me a minimum of 2 years to get through all these raisins. It's a shame that I don't even like Oatmeal Raisin cookies. (You jumping up and down right about now, Marn-Marn? Tee hee!) But I'm beyond excited about using those almonds in all my Christmas baking this year. Our almond roca will be even more to-die-for than it usually is. Watch out world - waistlines will most certainly plump up when all is said and done.

I'm really enjoying trading in favors and food, just like the pioneers did way back in the day. It feels pretty great. Anyone have anything I can trade for my baked treats?


Image courtesy of dkimages.com