Chicken and Waffles

Friend #1- "All I want to do for my birthday is eat chicken and waffles."


Me- "What?!  That sounds completely disgusting."


Friend #2- (a male with a baritone voice that morphs back to his Southern roots while discussing soul food)- "They're the best."


Friend #1- "Really, truly, chicken and waffles are the bomb and you haven't lived until you've had them."


Me- "Chicken and waffles just sounds fucked up to me.  Quite honestly, I can't think of a nastier combination.  Can't we do something else for your birthday, like maybe Belle Vie?"


Friend #2- (now in a trance like state with his eyes rolling back in his head recalling a childhood filled with collard greens, grits, and chicken and waffles)  "When are we going?"


Friend #1- "Friday.  After Thanksgiving.  I'll make the reservation."


Me- "Really? Where does one get a meal like that, The Fair?  Don't you know it's November and that shit's closed down for the season?"


Friend #1- "The Bulldog.  You're going and you'll love it."


Friend #2- (now speaking in a complete drawl, even a slight twang coming forth, voice deeper than ever)  "Sign me up."


Great.  The day after Thanksgiving we are planning to consume sourdough waffles smothered in thyme infused syrup piled high with bacon and fried chicken.  Yum.  Can't wait.  Sounds like a big 'ole hot mess to me, but I love my friend and if she wants to celebrate her day with chicken and waffles then chicken and waffles it is.


Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle if it wasn't the best damn thing I ever did taste.  Looks like shit on a plate and I can't begin to imagine the number of calories but once you put a single savory, sloppy, drippy, gooey bite into your mouth you might as well have died and gone to heaven.  Chicken and waffles puts the soul in Southern cooking, the Hee in the Haw and practically makes you hallucinate.  


And when your fancy pants friend tells you to get down and dirty and eat something you might never, ever imagine like chicken and waffles, you listen.  

The tastiest plate of nastiness you ever did see

My Day with Andrew

Sorry people.  

Wine Wednesday is being moved to Thursday once again because I have to tell you about my day with Andrew Shue!!  

 Andrew talks jeans with the owner of Amore and Fede Edina, Kim Parmater

As you all know, Andrew (yeah, we're on a first name basis, but I'm not sure he knows my first name) came to town for the Twin Cities launch of Mom.com and it's not everyday you get to take him shopping for jeans (for his wife) at Amore and Fede in Edina, have lunch at Barrio, dash downtown to the KSTP studios for a spot on Twin Cities Live, head upstairs to the Lori and Julia radio show then back to his hotel in Edina (he didn't invite me in) and off to Pinstripes for the launch party.  Whew, exhausting!  Not really...

"Do you think these will fit my wife?"

It was fun.  Super fun and I figured it's also not everyday I get to have Andrew Shue in my front seat so I say to the guy, "Andrew, since I've got you in my front seat, how's Elisabeth doing?"  I had to ask, all my guy friends wanted to know so here's the scoop fellas- she's married with two kids living in L.A., still doing the acting thing and she's actually on the set of a movie right now, in New Orleans, I think.  Their families are all going on vacation together in the Caribbean the first week of December and I didn't ask where, even though I wanted to.  Didn't want to pry. 

A few of the ladies from Mom.com Minneapolis

But enough about Elisabeth, let's talk about Andrew.  He is is a pretty normal guy, extremely bright, a total businessman, a natty dresser and he is passionate about Mom.com.  He said the idea was actually hatched while talking with Meredith Viera about the power of soccer moms.  Brilliant, I say!  Brilliant!  As it exists now, there are only daily deals, but just wait people, there is more.  SO much more!  Andrew describes the site as "conversation, content, and commerce".  It's going to be fabulous and I'm terribly excited about it all and can't wait to share, but I digress.  

Now you all know me, I typically don't hold back and I hope I don't get canned for this, but I found it a touch odd that he was a super soft talker.  Even though he is extremely well spoken, he is a very soft talker.  It's not a bad thing, but one on one, he's a soft talker.  Publicly, not so much, but even when he was sitting right next to me in the car it was hard to hear him.  In fact, he is such a soft talker that I could barely make out what he was saying on the phone to his wife Amy Robach about a clogged toilet and how she had to put water in the tank and not the bowl.  I tell you people, so stinkin' normal!   I thought I was the only one with a clogged toilet.

Not being a soft talker with Lori and Julia at 107.1 FM

  

In addition to being a soft talker (which by the way is not a bad thing) he's also super serious, but the brainy ones usually are.  You can't go to Dartmouth and be some kind of dummy, yet the seriousness kinda threw me which is why I think I busted out the Elisabeth question.  I mean, the dude has traveled the world, done the Hollywood thing, been to dinner at the White House and is madly in love with a Today Show anchor, and here he is in Minnesota (in my front seat!) and I'm asking him about his sister.  I'm 100% positive he thought I was from Mars, but whatever.  He just rolled with it- no attitude, no fuss, he signed autographs outside of KSTP for a few strange men that were lurking about, and didn't even want a dab of powder on his nose for a television interview.  He simply wanted to deliver his message about Mom.com and get on with his business.  He totally gets that he has to do the dog and pony show and was so gracious to every single person that wanted a photo with him.  All in the name of Mom.com.  

He took the time away from his extremely busy life, his lovely wife, kids he obviously adores and is very involved with (just a note-he rewards good grades with family dinners at Olive Garden), to promote something he is passionate about and we all appreciated it.  

With Lori and Julia in front of The Man Wall

Will Andrew make it up on The Man Wall?

Oh yeah!

Admiring the wall backstage at KSTP- signed by the likes of Hubert Humphrey, Paul Newman, Jane Wyatt, and countless others

Here is Andrew's contribution- "Great to be a part of the history of storytellers".  He genuinely thought this wall was pretty cool.  I could tell.

Twin Cities Live

MinnesOOta says "thank you" to Andrew and the Mom.com team from New York- betcha' come back real soooon!

Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That) [Official Version]

I'm having a bit of a Rihanna (or as my 4 year old says, RaNaNa) love affair right now, combined with a Barbados obsession.   How cool would it be to hit Barbados for Spring Break 2012 and dance to RaNaNa?  Love it.

Cheers to the weekend!

Note to my Dad- you will NOT like this video.

Wine Wednesday

Yeah, yeah, I know it's Thursday but I am starting a new thing called Wine Wednesday and in typical fashion I got too busy and didn't get it done yesterday.  So here is Wine Wednesday on Thursday- what a treat!  I'm not sure if this is the right way to start this little idea of mine (with a rant, no less) but I am peeved at what is happening with wine marketing to women out there.  Do these geniuses not know that 8 out of 10 bottles of wine are purchased by women?  Do they take all ladies for fools just shopping for happy hour by a humorous label and a degrading name?  Really?  How stupid do they think we are??

I know a wine shop and it's endless labels can be confusing, but ladies, would you really be excited to buy something called Kung Fu Girl Riesling or Basket Case Syrah?  Do yourselves a favor and don't fall into these traps.  It's like the fruit gushers and sugar cereal placed low on the shelf in the grocery store to attract our children and seduce them into buying crap.  

Hate to break it to you, but if you have bought one of these wines the same thing happened to you.  You were duped by marketing and I am sure you regretted it as soon as you popped the cork.  Even if these wines had a shot at being decent, they shouldn't be given the chance because they are downright offensive.  If you like wine and want to make a wise choice when you are at the liquor store, simply ask for help.  That's what these people do for a living- they sell the stuff and would much rather help you pick out a great wine than stock shelves.  I promise.  You can also read a book on wine before heading out to make your purchase.  Andrea Robinson and Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl have written comprehensive yet simple, straightforward books that you will not only enjoy, but truly learn something from.

When I am a sassy bitch and want a time out, I am not going to drink this.

Or this.

My first Wine Wednesday suggestion is going to be this.  

Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre.  
Doesn't quite roll off your tongue as easily as Sassy Bitch, but trust me, you will love it.  I served this to a group of ladies last month and it was hands down the favorite wine in the room.  Made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the Sancerre region of France, this little number is fragrant without being perfumey.  It is delicate, crisp, slightly lemony and exactly what you need for your evening time out.  Great on it's own and fantastic with food.  Pair it with fish, Thai food, chicken- it is extremely versatile and you will not be disappointed.
About $20 and you can get it in fine wine shops.  I buy mine at France 44 in Minneapolis.
You might not like the label, but you will like the wine and after all, that's what it's all about.

Hell in a Hand Basket?

20 kids is not my cup of tea, but ya know what, these folks seem to take it to a whole new level, in a good way.  Have you seen how still those children sit?  How respectful they are?  How well they get along with one another?  How freakin' organized they all are?  Either Michelle is slipping them all a boatload of Xanax or they are doing something right.  And clearly Mr. and Mrs. are still doing it.  Not sure when or where, but apparently they are and I say, "Congrats Y'all!"  Leave them the hell alone, people.  This family is actually positively contributing to society, raising good, honest children, and can I say, doing it DEBT FREE!!  Amazing.  Kudos to you Duggars- you have my blessing to have 20 more if you like.

Next up- Tattoo Barbie.  

Really?  What is the big deal? WHO CARES!!  

So you're trying to tell me that because someone has a tattoo (or fifty) it means they won't make a good parent?  I dare you to go check out that prissy little PTA lady's ankle and she just might have a few Greek letters and a butterfly tattooed underneath her tennis sock.  One or fifty, what's the difference??  Stop judging and get back to parenting.

Now this is a tough one.  Money grubbing and camera hungry she may be, but I still feel our little Kim is a true romantic at heart and just made a really, super bad, double bad decision here.  I think it's him.  He just seems mean and all of my sisters agree so there you have it.  Kim, just move along and we will forget it ever happened but you must, must stop bashing Minnesota and our people in the process.  If that does not subside I might just have to kick your big ass.

Now I don't know why poor Kenny popped up on my television screen the other day, but man, The Gambler has fallen on some hard times with this botched face lift.  It is seriously so disturbing that I had to rewind the clip (yes, I sometimes watch Entertainment Tonight when I'm cooking) and freeze it to study what the hell is going on here.  This is an entirely different human being, like he requested to his plastic surgeon, "Um, I'm going into the witness protection program so can you give me a completely new identity?"  

Poor fella.  He didn't need anything done in the first place, maybe a little lift of the eyelids, but he was kinda smokin' for an old dude, in a country western sort of way.  "Son I've made a life- outta readin' people's faces..."  

Well, not any longer Kenny.  Sorry.

So is society going to hell in a hand basket with 72 day marriages, 20 children families, gratuitous plastic surgery and tattooed toys?  No, I don't think so but our world is changing at a mind boggling pace and it's our job to look beyond what's obvious and not judge.  Kenny is still Kenny, even if he can't blink.  Kim is still a Kardashian even if she was a Humphries for three months so thank God we can all get back to speculating what toolbag she might choose next.  And those sweet Duggars, just go watch one episode.  They should be allowed to have as many kids as they want without people talking smack about them.  

And Tattoo Barbie, well, I say "just in time for Christmas folks!"

What to Wear...

I need help.  

Another big 40th celebration coming up this weekend and we have been asked to dress as rock stars.  From any era.  I'm a little stumped, but here are a few of my ideas.  

Does Sharon sing?  Would this count?

The hair alone would be fun

Okay, this would be just plain WRONG..

Pretty Easy

Kinda sleazy

Sweet.  Looks like Mr. C, right?

Did Slash have a singer companion or just groupies?

$5 goes to anyone that can identify this fella.  

Hint- he does not live in Minnesota and likes to paint his toenails.

Transitions

Here we go again.  


The leaves have fallen, they're all raked up (almost), the gutters are cleaned and the garage is emptied out to accommodate two cars and a snow blower which I am insisting we purchase this season after four years of Mr. C shoveling in the cold, dark early morning hours.  The forecast has been predicted- we might see some flakes on Wednesday or Thursday.  So now we sit and wait...


But I'm still never ready.  It's always a scramble to dig out the snow pants and boots on that first snow day, only to discover that they don't fit or we can't find one favorite glove and then that nasty note comes home from school saying, "please make sure your are dressed appropriately for Minnesota weather..."  Well, no shit Edina Public Schools.  I want to send my kid to school in shorts and tennis shoes with barely a sweatshirt to cover his arms when it's 22 degrees and snow begins to fall.  Transitions can be difficult for some...


That first snowfall of the season is fun, exciting, even beautiful, but I'm never thrilled to have that winter curtain drop announcing the inevitable shut-in.  I am not one of those to bundle up and go for a run around the lake (torture!) or snowshoe through the snowy drifts of some desolate park (peaceful, yes, but I gotta say, "boring!").  No thank you.  I prefer to sit by the fire with a nice glass of wine and wait for it all to melt...for like five months.   


I like the transition from one season to another, in fact when I moved to Northern California 16 years ago (wow that sounds like a long time ago) it was one of the nuances of the Midwest that I missed the most; not having that dramatic change of seasons to mark different places in time on the calendar, and I was happy to return to it when we moved back to Minnesota.  It's just what happens after that transition that I don't particularly care for- that insulating blanket of stark cold and endless snow.  But here we are again, preparing for the inevitable and just trying to enjoy the transition before it's passed.