Day 11 of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge-10 Favorite Foods

10 Favorite Foods

1. Artichokes-Artichokes are delicious. Of course anything dipped in lemon butter is delicious. They are one of those foods that people either love or hate. There is no middle ground. I love them to distraction. When I was single and young and kidless I would microwave an artichoke which is horrifying to some...but when you are young you cut corners. Here is how to properly prepare and artichoke. Simple and delicious. 
2. Coffee-I don't overdo coffee. Really I don't! But I NEED my cup or two of coffee in the morning. When I say need, I'm not exaggerating for dramatic effect although I do that from time to time. In fact there are many mornings that I question the wisdom of making my own coffee BEFORE I've had my coffee! Madness I tell you! For Mother's Day, my darling daughter and her even more darling hubby bought me a coffee subscription to DriftAway Coffee which makes the most delightful fresh roasted beans! This morning I'm drinking Ethiopia Shoye Sidama which has tasting notes of Peach, Honey and Floral (the package says that....I just taste delightful caffeine)
   
   It's so nice to try new things and I love the idea of a new flavor arriving every two weeks!
3. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups-Do I really need to describe why? You all know...Reeses are the best chocolate candy in the history of ever. I can go so far as to critique the different types of Reeses candies. Reeses Pieces-No Go. Wrong balance and too hard a shell. The huge Reeses Heart that you see at Valentines? Nope. Wrong Chocolate to Peanut Butter ratio. The Reeses egg is the absolute perfect balance that exists in nature. It's the bomb. The chocolatey peanut buttery bomb. 
4. Panang Curry-I like curry of all sorts but I LOVE Panang Curry. I especially love the Panang Curry at this little restaurant in Phoenix. If you live in the area you can't beat it. It literally lights my face on fire and I almost never can eat it and breathe at the same time but I can't help myself. If you are desperate it can be mixed with their Tom Yum soup which is my comfort soup for a delicious tasty sensation. They can thank me in the form of food. 
5. Italian Pork Sandwich (only in Philly)-Now my hubby being from Philly has very strong opinions on cheesteaks. I think they all do. It's like a genetic thing. Although that doesn't make sense does it. It's geographically genetic. Now please don't lynch me Philly people but I don't care for cheesesteaks. I don't get the hype. A cheesteak here, there or anywhere just doesn't thrill me a bit. But.....I found my gastronomic true love at my last visit to a Philly institution Tony Lukes. It's called an Italian Pork Sandwich and it's served with spinach and extra sharp provolone....delicious!!
   
6. Prime Rib-Anywhere. Anyway. Anytime. Love me some Prime Rib with horseradish! Delish!
7. Dolmades-I just adore stuffed grape leaves. And I sort of kid myself they are healthy. After all they are green, right? But they are historically made with lamb and rice. Not exactly health food. But they are delicious if made fresh and not canned. I always ask at restaurants and they almost always take them out of a can...but the ones that make it onsite....to die for!
8. Crepes-The very best kind are off a crepe stand on the streets of Paris.

   

   Photo via Pinterest

   Ham and Cheese or just sugar...hot and steaming and fresh off the griddle. Bon Appetit!
9. Butterbeer Gelato-This concoction is attributed again to my wonderful daughter. She invited us over to her new place for a little family dinner and she bribed me by making the most decadent delicious melt in your mouth treat. It is inspired by Harry Potter of course. And it makes it on my list of favorite foods!
10. Chips and Guacamole-Growing up in San Diego, chips and guacamole were a staple at every single party. I'm a big fan of chunky and very limey guac. Yes..the cool kids call it Guac. See? Wasn't that cool? Yum...I want some now!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's topic-My Favorite Childhood Book

Day 2 of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge-20 Facts About Me

20 Facts about me!?! I'm not sure I have 20 interesting facts but here it goes!

1) I love travel! I would go anywhere for just about any reason. And I get wanderlust really quickly. I usually am planning one trip while on another. I can fool myself sometimes by just going somewhere for the weekend to reset my "impulse" button.

2) I don't drink alcohol. Although I frequently find myself in bars since hubby is a musician. It is way more fun watching people drinking and being idiots than being the idiot myself! 

3) I love my dog! Probably not a surprise to many of you since he has his own hashtag. #puppersthejunkyarddog . His name is Puppers and he absolutely rules the roost here. The other truth is that I love him way more than he loves me. He is totally my hubs dog....totally. I just beg him to love me and he tosses a bone my way every now and again!

4) I am a book fanatic. I only read at night now and I frequently lose track of time and read into the wee hours than feel regretful and remorseful the next day while I'm trying to haul my tired butt out of bed!

5) I'm a goofball. I accept and embrace my goofiness however hubs who is a closeted goofball thinks he's hip, slick and cool...He's not. As evidenced by this photo...he's a total goof too. It's one of his finest qualities!

6) I was a mighty cute kid! And I was raised in San Diego. Both of these facts are equally important to "who I am". I did, however, have no hair which I'm sure you are all kind enough not to point out! 

7) I have ZERO patience! Waiting in line? Nope! Holding on the phone? Absolutely not! Filling out forms? Are you kidding me? I'll be tapping my fingers and fidgeting and swearing under my breath. The photo below is one that I IG'd waiting in line at the Post Office which was making me seriously Cray-Cray (As if taking a photo at the Post Office isn't crazy enough)! I just have people to see and places to go and if you are in my way....YOU ARE IN MY WAY!!!

8) I'm a warm weather gal. I've lived in three locations in my life. 

• San Diego
• Hawaii
• Phoenix

Get the picture? I am one of those that throws on a light jacket if the temps plummet into the 70's. You get it, right?

9) I like to color my hair. Alot. Different every time. I'm not one of those that you can call a brunette, or a blonde or a redhead....I'm more like all of the above...and then some. Who knows what's next? Red?

10) I have amazing, talented, beautiful, kind, ingenious daughters. Two of them! They challenge me, and fill me with love, and drive me crazy, and love me to pieces. I never thought of myself of the nurturing kind of parent...and they would probably tell you that I'm not, but they sure changed my life and I can't imagine a minute without either of them!

 11) I live in Arizona. This is quite a fact. I never thought I'd live here but I've actually been here 10 years August 1st! It's been a long strange trip! In my time in Arizona I've come to the following conclusions:

• I love monsoons...they are super cool. And saying the word "haboob" is even cooler!
• I've developed an appreciation for the desert landscape. All cacti are not created equal
• Spring and Fall here are absolute Heaven. Summer is Hell personified. Winter is cool
• Misters are awesome. Pools are awesome. And the people are the best

12) I love old stuff. I often wonder if I were born in another time or another place. It's possible! But I am so drawn to the gentility of another time and the lifestyle of another place. Since I can't be there....I try to fill here with as many old things as I can that speak to me or lift me up!

13) I'm adopted. That's just kind of a fact...not terribly interesting. I was adopted by an amazing couple when I was 3 months old and I always grew up knowing that I was wanted and adored and took a journey to find my family. Then several years ago I got the chance to meet and get to know my birth family and they are amazing people too! I just couldn't be more blessed!

14) I adore my girlfriends. I have the best and the most beautiful girlfriends on earth. I love them fiercely and they are my family. That is all!

15) I am very sarcastic. I speak it fluently. To a fault. Not everyone appreciates it. Sucks to be them....Ok but to be honest it is not just my defense mechanism but also evidence of my sparkling personality and quick wit. If I'm not sarcastic...how do you know how smart I am? I do try to close my mouth and only be sarcastic in my head but see #18

16) I suck at fishing and camping but I actually like both. I'm a terrible fisherwoman (see #7) and I don't like to get dirty or have worm guts under my nails but as long as someone will plop me in a chair with my toes in the water and help me cast so that no one loses an eye when I try it....I'm 100% in! As far as camping...again....do the setup and give me smores. I'm your girl!

17) Coffee is a non-negotiable. I've tried...I've cut back...It's not pretty. I need coffee in the morning and I need it bad. In fact, I can't really make coffee without coffee first so it's preferable that you hand it to me in a steaming mug while my feet are still in slippers. For you that is.....

18) I have resting bitch face. I have exercising bitch face...I just have a bitchy face. And I can't hide my emotions....my every thought comes right through my eyes. Whether or not they are rolling. I can't hide one single tiny thought....it's all right out there for the world to see. Dang it! 

19. I like to write. Probably comes from having a father that's an English professor and a mother that's an attorney. Words and wordsmithing comes easy to me. I guess that's the blogger coming to life, huh?

And finally......If you've held on this long....drum roll please!

20. I love Bravo. It's my biggest dirty secret. My hugest shame...The housewives, the yachties, the cooking shows...i love it all....I watch it in the middle of the night or Sunday mornings when hubs is still asleep (he won't tolerate the nonsense). I just love it. There...it's out!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post: My Favorite Quote