Grill-a-holics Anonymous: Zippy Burgers

Good morning, turtle doves. It's a frosty one outside today. Sammy and I are getting our snuggle bunny on while listening to some guy scrape his car windows.

So since John became the new owner of a charcoal grill, my cooking duties have been pushed back to seasoner and sides. I'm perfectly okay with that. Here we are, eating like it's July. Last night we had Johnsonvilles and burgers with a little kick.

Zippy Burgers:

1/4 cup beer (I used Edmund Fitzgerald. Yummy, yummy, yummy.)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound lean ground beef

Combine the first 7 ingredients. Mix with the beef. Grill to desired temperature (or fry or broil if your girlfriend wasn't as awesome as me and bought you a grill for Christmas). Top with awesome condiments. Toast and butter the bun. Mmmm. . .

You can also find the recipe here. Thanks, and enjoy!!!

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 22 23, 24 & 25

So I totally suck and didn't do it. It's really no surprise. I wasn't fooling myself, so I hope I didn't fool you guys. I did promise you 25 gifts so I'll finish it up with what I actually ended up getting John.

Stok Tower Charcoal Grill $159.50 Sale price $49.95

When John and I went to Home Depot to get our Christmas tree, we both saw this awesome charcoal grill on sale for $49.95. What a steal it was! We were planning to get it after the holiday, but I had other plans. I went back and got it and I'm so glad I did. John said, and I quote, "It's the best gift I've ever gotten." Hell yeah, hell yeah! I hit the jackpot. Not only did John love it, but it was a lot cooler than we thought. It comes with an ash catch, built in temperature gauge, pizza stone and an insert removal tool. You can also buy a wok, griddle, vegetable tray, chicken roaster insert and kabob and rib rack. It's a Home Depot exclusive brand, but it's pretty durable and solid. John and I are now set on being a grilling dynamic duo. Autumn with the marinades and John with the cooking. I'm so glad I bought it.

Cowboy Hardwood Lump Charcoal $7.48

After I picked the grill out, I decided I wanted him to be abler to use it as soon as he put it together. Me being the hippie I am, of course got the natural kind. It gave a nice flavor to it. John said he'd prefer Kingsford, so I don't know. Still, we grilled as soon as he put it together.

I also got a charcoal caddy, lighter fluid and grilling tools. I can't seem to find the link for them, but they were all from Home Depot.

So there we are. 25 gifts that most certainly got him down my chimney a few times. All. . . AWESOME.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. See ya before the new years.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Okay, okay. I totally suck. I'm the worse blogger in the world, but I promised you 25 gifts, and damn it, you'll get 25 gifts.

Nerf Vortex Vigilon Disc Blaster $19.99 on Sale for $14.99

This is actually a gift I ended up getting John early. We went to Toys 'R Us to get some gifts for my nephew. He's a 6 year old boy, so I decided to go with this. It ended up not only being on sale, but also buy one, get one 50% off. Once I told him he could have the other one, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. I'm in love with such a big kid.

Die Hard: The Ulitmate Collection $59.99

Yippie ky yay, mother fucker. John talks this movie up soooooooo much. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a REALLY good series, but I was a little girl when these movies started coming out. I couldn't get into them is all. Anyway, he loves these movies. And as a collector of hard media, he'd totally appreciate it. This box set has 8 discs of Bruce Willis!!!!

Tactical Bleeding Zombie Target $89.95

Back to John and I's obsession with zombie Apocalypse. He asked me the other day if I was pretending to be super into zombies. I answered with a stern and immediate 'no'. Who wouldn't absolutely love the idea of kicking zombie ass? A loser is who. We watched The Crazies the other day. Pretty good. What I liked about this zombie movie is that they were smart zombies. No way anyone could survive those mother fuckers. Those, and Left for Dead zombies. Anyhow, I could talk about zombies for hours (I might do a blog about it after the holiday). I came across this awesome website with bleeding zombie targets. How cool is that? It even bleeds! There's several different kinds. You can get a Nazi, a terrorist and a lot more. And they're filled with biodegradable matter. Eco friendly zombies? Yes, you are in heaven. Check them out http://zombieindustries.com. If this doesn't make it for the Christmas gifts, don't worry. Nothing says I love you like a zombie for Valentine's day.

Haymaker Shirt $24

I always say I want my men to look like they can wrestle a bear. Facial hair is a totally turn on. Not just facial hair, but a big, manly, bear wresting looking beard. So hot. When I saw this shirt, not only did it make me giggle, but it was one of those things I said to myself "John needs to have this"

Recycled Starbucks Tumbler $11.95

A simple gift that any coffee lover would adore. Going with John and I's passion for the environment, the recycled Starbucks tumbler is perfect for my honey's early mornings. He can take coffee with him to work at 6 am or, stop at the local Starbucks before work or class. Accompany this with a gift card, and he'll enjoy getting his Pike Place on.

Handmade Beard Comb $10

Back to me being obsessed with beards. This way my man can stay nice and combed and looking like a proper man. This particular one is handmade in Switzerland and is made from natural cellulose acetate and is perfect for your bearly man.

Sneakers: The Complete Collectors's Guide $22.78

What a perfect present for my sneaker head. Over 180 sneaker designs. Anything from super rare to latest designs to reissued sneakers. Also chopped full of resources for any collector. Get this from your local Barnes and Noble.

Hippies Use Side Door Sign $19.99

A cleaver and funny sign. John loves little knick nacks like this around the house. Plus we're all about discriminating against hippies (We can, because we're the biggest ones we know). This sign measures at 10.25" x 7.25". I think it would be super cute in a colored, vintage frame. Perfect to decorate your hipster home.

Phew!!! Finally got that done. If you thought thinking of 25 gifts, in one month, for your boyfriend was easy, think again. Totally wish he was Jewish. I would have been had this 8 days thing taken care of. Happy holidays to all my Jews and Gentiles.

P.S. I will have a very special post tomorrow so make sure you come back and check it out.

P.S.S. Can you do 'P.S.' with a blog???

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 13

Today is the beginning of my decision to make responsible choices daily. It's starting with me actually putting my car (that hasn't been working for over a month) in the shop. I'm also going to not keep blowing off appointments, and working out and eating better. Oh, and maintaining the house more. I get so lazy in the winter. Basically, organize the fuck out of my life. I'm starting with baby steps by blogging.

iPhone 4S $199 +

I first got my iPhone over a year ago. I had a blackberry before, and I absolutely loved it. The only reason I made the switch to the iPhone was because I really wanted the Britney Spears iPhone App. My iPhone, in turn, has changed my life. John thinks I'm exaggerating about the awesomeness of this device. To get any other type of phone kind of seems barbaric to me. And he NEEDS a new cell. He's rocking the original MyTouch. Way over his 2 year contract and it barely works. If I decide to sneak through his phone, I at least need 5 minutes to get his messages to load up. And I text this super cute picture of Sammy today, and he couldn't even get it. This may be the winner. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and the super cute picture of Sammy.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 12

Hellllllllllloooooo, lovelies. I had today off and slept for about 10 hours. Seriously. But now I'm up, drinking a nice, warm cup of joe, and listening to . Yep, still no tree, so still no Christmas music. Today is a gift that you get to enjoy as well.

Couples Massage $90+ from Connecting Touch

John works so hard and is always so tense, but I HATE giving massages (I My hands get tired and hurt). He deserves a good one. Not a half ass rub down from me. It's also an excuse to have some romantic time. Maybe I'll wear this. Anyway, it starts off at $90 for 30 min. This is a gift you'll both love.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 8, 9, 10 & 11

I was doing good with it for awhile, then I had to live life, so I got behind again. That's okay though, because I have some super awesome ideas today.

A Subscription to XXL Magazine $19.97

The fact that we live in a mostly digital world has not damaged John's love of written press and hard copy music. I appreciate that he still appreciates having a physical catalog of things he loves. Anyway, one of his favorite magazines is XXL, an everything hip hop magazine. Makes for a great stocking stuffer. Buy the current issue and put a bow on it. Super cute!

Men's Gift Basket Beard Shave Muscle Rub Body Wash Gift Set  $24.99

I went to Etsy for this one. For your sexy, hippie man. It's a gift set that includes body wash, muscle rub and beard conditioner to keep you man nice and beary.

Light - Mother Fucking - Saber $29.99

My boyfriend is a big kid, and the awesomness of this gift idea needs no explination.

Ron Swanson Hair and Mustache T-Shirt $26.00

Another gift whose awesoneness speaks for itself. If you like anything cool at all, you'll appreciate this totally cool. Parks and Rec shirt from the NBC Universal store.

Well that's it for the past 4 days. Promise I'll get better.Merry Christmas!

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 7

Happy December 7th! I'm at home, taking a break from laundry, getting a little bit wasted, listening to Meiko. No Christmas music for me yet. Not until I get my tree on Sunday.

Anyway, today's gift idea is one I know John would love. If you know John, you know he's one of the most practical people in the world. So the idea of thermals and PJs make him go bananas, unlike me who will walk around the house half naked and then cut the heat on75. If I could combine thermals, PJs and throw some Polo in there for good measure. Bam! We have the most awesome set of nightwear eva!

Polo Ralph Lauren Waffle Shirt and Pant Set $59.99

Get this for your honey so he can be nice and toasty. And he'll be so warm you can just snuggle up next to him and still sleep naked. Or maybe in yesterday's gift.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 6

Ho! Ho! Ho! Three words totally appropriate for today's gift idea.

Eyelet Skirted Cheeky & Balconet Bra $14.50 & $37.50

I'm always trying to sex up the holiday. Hell, I'm always trying to sex up any day. This gift is one that is for you, but for him. You get nice, new undies, and he gets to look at you in them. Just kidding. Tis the season for giving, right? Plan your man a nice dinner with some nice beer a nice massage and then rock his world. "Give, get, turn up the heat." I fell in love with this particular set. Ruffles!!!! Gotta love it. Plus, It's a scientific fact that I look GREAT in lingerie. Pick out a set sure to keep him warm this cold holiday season.

Now I need some 4 inch heels, perfume in all the right places, a Brazilian wax and I'm ready for the night! I'm totally gonna look so hot in this!

10 Reasons Why my Dog is Insane

If you've had the pleasure of meeting Sammy Davis Jr the dog, not only was your heart warmed at the sight of his cute puppy dog eyes and his sweet velvety ears, but something of yours was most likely chewed up and/or violated. I love my little baby, but he's a badass with a capital 'b'.

1) He'll pick up his bone & put it in your shoe. He likes to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Destroy your stuff and get a snack.

2) During potty training, we would give him a treat after he used it. He got smart and would pee, come in and get a treat and then go back out and poop so he could get another one.

3) This is one of his new things, but he likes to crawl in bed with you and worm his way to sleep under the blankets. He'll stay there until he's decided he's too hot.

4) If it were up to Sammy, he'd have a diet strictly of my bras and panties. He's the perv of the year.

5) He's also a peeking Tom. He likes to jump in the bed when it's intimate time. & he tries to lick my nipples when I sleep naked. Again. . . The perv of the year.

6) He tries to eat your socks. This may seem like a normal thing, but Sammy only tries when the socks are on your feet.

7) He hasn't gotten the concept that his reflection isn't another dog.

8) THE CRYING! Sammy cries no matter what. Wanna go take a shower? He'll cry. Going in the closet to get dressed? He'll cry. Gotta poop? He'll cry. He has to be in the same room as you no matter what. He's the most unindependent dog in the world.

9) His howl. He only does it a hand full of times a day, but when he does, he sounds all the way crazy. Sometimes he just gets so turned up. He never barks, but that howl will make you pee your pants from laughing.

And lastly. . .

10) Sammy likes to do hoodrat shit with his friends.

No matter what he does, he's the little love of my life. My little Sammy Baby.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 5

So we meet again, my holiday shopping companions. Have you made a dent in your gift list yet? Yeah, me neither. My game plan for the holiday's is pick out everything I plan on gifting, know where it's from and the price and then probably a week before Christmas, knock it all out, one day. That, or I'm going to do hella online shopping. I just hate the crowds. They're the worst.

Today's gift idea is one any beer lover will appreciate. Especially John.

A Grapes and Granary Home Brewing Kit $49.59

This particular kit makes a Black IPA. A black IPA is similar to a regular Indian Pale Ale, but brewed with hints of chocolate and toasted malts. I picked this beer because John likes his beer like he likes his woman, black and hoppy! They have many different options so pick the one that your baby will love.

Enjoy your gift giving and until next time.

Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend

So I got off of work super early and walked to the library where John was studying. Somehow, I got looking at engagement rings and found this deliciously badass ring from Chanel. It better be for $270,000!

Even if I were to marry someone stupid, crazy rich, I couldn't see myself wanting a ring that expensive. You know how many starving children could eat off of that? A lot. Me, I like to live a life of modesty. My dream ring is from Apples of Gold. A beautiful, pearl and diamond ring. No, it's not traditional, but I'm not really a traditional kind of girl.

I know one day my honey will buy this ring for me. Until then, I better keep giving him good sex and good food.

My Boys

Look at them. The most handsome men in the world. My honey, John, and my baby, Sammy. This is what I wake up to every morning. This is what I see right before bed. My 2, sleepy babies. I'm so in love with them.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 2,3, and 4

So I'm totally bad at this blogging every day thing. Sorry, guys. I promise, promise that I'll try to get better.

I'm eating jelly beans. I'm such a Christmas rebel. Is everyone loving all the holiday spirit being shoved down our throats? Christmas music at work. My Netflix being jacked up with holiday movies. People acting dumber than normal. You gotta love it. Today, you get 3 days of presents for your honey.

Wooden Great Lakes Brewery Poster $46.95

This one is a fun gift I know John would love. He's always taking about his future Man Cave and this would be perfect for it. And something I wouldn't mind him hanging up now.

6 Month Membership at The Marksman Armory and Archery $175

John and I are a little bit weird, but we have a zombie Apocalypse plan. It's pretty detailed and pretty awesome, but if it were to actually happen, neither of us know how to shoot. And the nice thing is you can bring a guest, so it's something we can do together, or he can take a friend.

Shag Del Norte Vans $57

I was sitting on the couch, browsing on the Vans website when John saw these over my shoulder. He's big into shoes and Vans are second to Nike in his eyes.

And there you go. Now I must dash. John and Sammy are tearing up my house.

25 Gifts to Get Him Down Your Chimney Tonight: Day 1

Today's gift idea for your honey is this super, cute G-Shock $160 from UrbanOutfitter.com This watch is available online only, but is a free shipping item. I'm dying to know what color the back light is. The watch also has solar technology, moon data, stopwatch, countdown timer and water resistant up to 200 meters. Any man would love to have this on his wrist (And it's cute enough for you to borrow)

Have I Been Naughty or Nice?

With the holiday quickly approaching, it's time to start putting a little thought into what I want. I usually think of totally awesome things, but when my mom or boyfriend or whoever ask, I usually spazz out and totally forget, so here it is, the ultimate gift guide, for me!

1) The Nook Color $199

It has a  VividView 7" touchscreen with apps, e-mail and web with video. Netflix and Hulu Plus and Marvel comics all coming soon to the Nook Color. I also like how you can get in store support at any Barnes and Noble. 

2) Tape Ted Org. Dry Grey Embo Nudie Jeans $179

Nudie Jeans is a socially conscious and environmentally friendly company that sells premium denim. I normally would never even want a pair of jeans so expensive, but they're suppose to be lifelong jeans. You don't wash them for 6 months. You can freeze them to help with the smell. They form to your body and things you may keep in your pockets so they end up worn perfectly  and when you finally do wash them you can do different effects. John has a pair and when we went to Florida, we sandblasted and washed them in the ocean. They came out awesome.

3) Swarovski Pearl iPhone case $35

I found this super cute iPhone case on Etsy. I fell in LOVE! It's everything I am. Pearls and crystals and pink bows! Oh, my!

4) Burlap Toms $54

I'm currently on a burlap kick, so when I saw these Toms I went absolutely crazy. I can't wait to get these on my feet. I plan on making different color bow clips to add a little color to them. It'll be super cute!

5) Ugg Womans Kensington in Toast $220

How cute are these Uggs? Super cute, right. I like the whole motorcycle look to them. I'll look super cute in these and some leggings. A must have And the nice thing about these are my sister works at Macy's which is owned by Neiman Marcus so she can get a discount. Yay!

6) Knitting 1 Classes $35

There's been so many craft projects that I would love to do, but they all involve knitting. This is also one of my New Years resolutions is to learn how to knit so this would be a gift that would mean a lot to me. Plus, Sammy needs cute sweaters for this upcoming cold season.

7) Jackie Ohh III Ray-Bans $139

Look how cute these are?! I first saw them on the Urban Outfitters holiday gift guide. These sunglasses are so classic and fab!

8) A New Coat

I have 3 options for this one:

Drop-waist Belted Wool Coat from Victoria's Secret for $109

or this BB Dakota Coat from Urban Outfitters for $99

or  BB Dakota Switching Trains Coat from ModCloth.com for $109.99

As you can tell I'm totally jonesing for a white coat this year. I think it'll look cute, fun and flirty this winter. And yes, I will keep it clean.

9) Gift cards. The gift that keeps on letting me get exactly what I want. Sephora, Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, Shoedazzle, Target and Pac Sun (Yes, I've been shopping there lately. I don't know why)

10) Tools. Since I have my own place, I think it's only appropriate that I have some tools in case I want to fix stuff or build things. Mainly a drill, a hand sander and some wrenches. This is the weird one on the list.

There you have it. My ultimate Christmas list. Now don't think I'm just a little, selfish, spoiled brat. Starting December 1st, I'll be doing 25 gifts in 25 days for that special man in your life. So stay tuned!

Maple Cheddar Bacon Burger

John had been craving some burgers and I had some ground beef that needed to be cooked. I wasn't feeling the traditional grilled patty, so I decided to mix it up a bit.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/4 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup syrup
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
5 strips of bacon
Sliced cheddar cheese
Hamburger buns

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Form into patties. Pan fry on medium heat.

While patties are cooking, place bacon in oven and cook until crispy, about 15 minutes.

Top burgers with cheese and cook until melted.

Toast and butter your buns, then top with patty, bacon and any other condiments desired.

Serve with a plate of French fries and give your honey a kiss on the cheek when you set his plate down ;)

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a great holiday! I love being able to spend time with family, just not too much. After a few hours I want to pull my hair out.

I ate lots of good food. My older sister makes THE BEST macaroni and cheese. And John's parents make the best fucking turkey in the world. I usually don't even like turkey, but they grill it and it comes out so moist and flavorful. I decided to go with a dessert this year. Chocolate Pecan Pie.

I sadly forgot to take a picture seeing as I woke up early that morning to make it (not a morning person at all), but it came out delicious and I still want to share the link with you guys.

I got this one from my favorite cooking show Down Home with the Neely's.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/tonys-chocolate-pecan-pie-recipe/index.html (I'm on my blogger app which doesn't let me do hyperlinks so deal with the long URL for now)

The pie was rich and delicious. I did omit the bourbon. And I used dark and light brown sugar. Only things I would suggest changing is chopping up the nuts and melting the chocolate down first. I think it would have been better if the chocolate was evenly distributed. It's a quick and easy and delicious dessert that will make your future in-laws love you even more.

If you try it, I'd love to hear how yours turned out so comment and let me know!

Everything is Better with Bacon

So. . . I've been suspended from work for a week. It totally sucks, and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to pay my bills, but I'm gonna try to make the most out of it. A week of domestic goddess-ness. House wife in training practice run.

Last night I did day 2 (day 1 was some really great wings. I didn't take pictures, but I'll share the link later). And I have to admit, I out did myself. The lady in front of us at the grocery store over heard and said it sounded fantastic. Bacon wrapped pork loin, mashed potatoes and baked apples.

OH MY GOD BASED GOD!

And it came out deathly delicious. A simple meal that will have your honey sending you back to the kitchen to make another plate for him, with a nice pat on the ass (We live like we're in the 50s. It's awesome, don't judge)

Bacon Wrapped Pork Roast

1 2.75 pound pork roast
5 slices of bacon
1/4 cup syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350

Combine all the spices with the syrup. Baste all sides of the roast with the syrup/spice mixture.

Place 3 slices of bacon on top of the roast vertically. Weave the rest of thee bacon in horizontally. Baste again.

Cook 20 minutes for every pound, basting every so often.

Let sit for 5 minutes and then slice up and serve. I made this with mashed potatoes and cinnamon apples.

John was crazy about this dish and so was I. It's definitely getting added to the rotation.

A Whole New Appreciation for Hip-Hop

Last week, boyfriend and I rented a movie from Redbox. Unfortunately, I got really, REALLY drunk off of Christmas Ale and blacked out and don't remember watching it. Shit, I don't even remember getting it. I was that bad. I made chili (no blog yet, it's not perfected), and was so drunk I chopped up way too many peppers and it was crazy hot. John was afraid to try it, but says it was really good.

Anyway, that was a few days ago. I was just going to return it, but I asked John was it worth watching, and he answered yes without any hesitation. Spencer (roommate) didn't think I would appreciate it, but boy, was he wrong.

Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest was by far, the best documentary I've ever seen and in the top 5 for best movies I've ever seen. I feel like my eyes were just opened for the first time.

My exposure to hip-hop in my life has been very limited. My mother only listened to R&B and my father was into rock and pop. Plus my parents seem to be older than most my friends so I didn't really grow up listening to Tupac and NWA. Lots of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The only time I ever heard rap regularly was when I was around my older cousin. He use to babysit us as a kid. My sister's got into hip-hop and rap when they were older, but things like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, both of which I like (Except new Wayne. He's a douche, see here, that makes albums full of singles that can also be club mixed). I didn't get my first REAL taste of hip-hop until I moved in with John and Martell. And not to toot their own horns, but they were great teachers.

One of the things that attracted me so much to John is he's passionate about things that are important to him. His family, his friends, his dream, me and hip-hop (Yes, I added myself in there. No one has ever loved me as hard as this man does. Woo!) So when we started dating, he showed me his world. He exposed my ears to beats and rhythms that I other have wouldn't have ever heard. He played music that touched my soul. I've changed so much in the past year, and part of that has to do with my new found love.

Martell showed me a different side of music, the creative process. Martell is an aspiring rapper/producer and out of all the people out here aspiring to be a rapper/producer, he IS the most talented. If you know him, you know that anything he's interested in, he obsesses over (Not a bad thing). Listening to him make beats was an experience. You would hear him in his room picking out his samples, selecting the right type of drum and where it should be placed. and over the next few weeks, you'll hear it develop and grow. John referred to it as a pregnancy once. This thing that you love and create is inside of you and it grows, and changes. And finally when it's ready, it's absolutely perfect. I secretly envy him and that he's able to create such beautiful music.

With this tag team of mentors, I found myself appreciating and enjoying a whole new culture. Figuring out my favorite artist and forming opinions of my own. It's been exhilarating experience. But watching this movie today made me realize I don't know where it started. I don't know the roots from which it all began. I've been inspired. I feel like it's a whole new world for me to explore. My brain has been missing out on so much amazing music.

If you like things that are awesome, you should most definitely check out this movie.

2 for 1 On Gravy

One thing everyone should know about me is that I L O V E Christmas Ale! Like it's a little Kathy Bates, my obsessing. Great Lakes Brewery Company Christmas Ale. I'm kind of ride or die for the shit. Well last week was the official release at The Great Lakes Brewery. John and I of course went and of course it was packed as fuck. We had pizza. We made friends. We drank a lot of delicious Christmas Ale! It was awesome.

Anyway, we came home and the emotional drunk that I am, felt all "I love John and I want to spend the rest of my life with him." Blah, blah, blah! You know. Well I called his mother (Marcy) and invited her and his father (Erwin) over for dinner the up coming Sunday. The worst drunk dial ever, right?! And John, who wanted to teach me a lesson, wouldn't let me get out of it (I make the dumbest drunk dials).

So Sunday morning I had to wake up, clean the house, and cook a lovely meal. I decided on Cabernet-Braised Beef Short Ribs with Rosemary and let me tell you, they came out absolutely perfect. I did do a few modifications:

• I used beef broth instead of beef stock
• I left out the mushrooms (I HATE mushrooms, except on pizza)
• I used a teaspoon of dried rosemary
• And I always go extra garlic!!!
• I also let them cook bone-side up for 20 min (I had to go pick up John, my beetle needs a new alternator)
• Oh, and I cut my cook time short, I only let them cook an hour and 15 minutes  (John's parents came before the 2 full hours so I just went with it)
• Double oh, I poured the beef broth over after the ribs cooked for 30 minutes. I seemed to miss that step

They were absolutely perfect!!!!! I severed them with mashed potatoes, green beans and french bread. I was the perfect little host! And I followed it up with strawberry cupcakes. As John walked his parents out, his mom whispered in his ear, "She can cook!" Success!!!!


The next day. . .

Since I had a TON of gravy left over, I decided to use it for a pot roast. Another day of perfectly cooked beef, let me tell ya! This one I kind of made up on a whim. I didn't take exact measurements, but I'm a firm believer of food taste the best when you wing it.

1. Seasoned the pot roast with salt, pepper, rosemary and minced garlic. Then I rubbed it with half a pouch of Lipton onion soup mix. Pour 2 cups of beef broth and cook for 30 minutes on 350.
2. Pour leftover gravy over the pot roast. Continue cooking.
3. Boil diced potatoes and carrots until tender and drain. Add to pot roast.
4. Continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
5. Make your hubby a nice, big plate!

I mainly thank 2 great meals to the gravy. It's perfect for any beef dish.

Now it's time to get back to watching John play Arkham City and discussing the pay rate and benefits of being a goon. Possibly talking about putting an add on Craig's List

Happy Halloween!

I just wanted to share my awesome Halloween costume with you guys. I was the sexy Hamburglar. And John was my burger! I made his costume by sewing a yellow and brown shirt together. Oh, and you gotta have your condiments!