Modern Family ~ Best Show this Season

Okay, you already know I'm a mom of two, you know that I'm twi-sessed and you know that I read ... a lot. So you can probably guess that there is very little time in my life for television. I still "pretend" to watch tv every night with DH but I think he's on to my rouse as each night I sit curled up on the sofa, sipping wine with my laptop (or my kindle or real book) precariously perched on the arm of our sofa.

Last night was different because I realized that we have like FIVE weeks worth of my (oops-I-forgot-about-you) favorite show on television ~ Modern Family. Are you watching? Oh My Gaaaaawwwd. Seriously, if you aren't watching you are missing the best show.

So, I'll be honest I have the sense of humor of a twelve year old boy... inappropriate and childish 'bout sums it up. Side bar: Did you ever notice that President Bush said the word "duty" no fewer than 10 times in EVERY single speech? And every single time I giggled... he said, duuuuty. Come on people that is funny.

Oh dear, I've strayed haven't I?

My point is that you need to watch Modern Family. It's on ABC, Wednesday nights at 9 EST. Here are a few clips that actually made me snort I was laughing so hard. Yes, seriously I was snorting... and there might have even been a snicker and perhaps even a guffaw.

LOVE this clip... not only does it showcase Minnie Driver but as a former professional turned stay at home mom I relate to this more than you know. Although in my case I was vacuuming the lint filter on our water heater. No, I'm not kidding.






Are you laughing? Are you?

Cheers, 
Ouiser

A Few New ~ Old Things You're Going to Adore

You've heard me go on and on about "A Bloomsbury Life" Blog. Well today is yet again inspired by her blog.

I've always loved old things, of all kinds. I'm by no means a pack rat, in fact I really really detest clutter but there is something so inspiring about physically touching something that has seen another time. Not to get too deep on a Friday morning but it seems to connect me to the past. This is probably one of the many reasons I am enthralled by historical social behavior.

Anything or anyone can elicit this feeling ~ People, clothing, books and especially photographs. I can spend hours lost in old photos imagining what was happening just before or just after one was taken. What are people in the photos thinking about? What problems and joys did they face on that day? The questions are just endless.

okay, snapping out of it.... sorry... I could go for way too long about my weird fascination with times gone by. **le sigh**

Really, please do check out her post today. It is inspiring, enchanting and beautiful. Click here to see for yourself.

So.... if you're still with me. I found these two items on her blog and I absolutely LOVE them both. With all the rough and tumble my poor mac book takes I've been thinking it's about time I get a case for it. Well this one is PERFECT, I couldn't imagine anything better. I'm thinking the brown would be sublime.

And how quaint and a little quirky is this?! I'm old enough to remember using (okay more like playing with) a typewriter ~ it was my mother's and it was the 1980's so it was electric, all function no charm. Never the less I think this would be a charming addition to my laptop. It's backordered (clearly too many others agree with me) but you can sign up to be on the wait list.

Happy Reading, Browsing & (perhaps) Shopping!

Cheers, 

Ouiser

I totally want to hang out with ... The Guys from OK GO

So I may have just stumbled up on a new regular feature for the blog... "I totally want to hang out with..."  just think of all the possibilities. Aside from RPattz cause he'd be my first choice, natch. 

I was going to blog about the funny singing filet-o-fish from the McDonald's commercials. No, I'm not kidding. What? Its funny. Seriously. Okay, well you can click here to see it and judge for yourself.

Instead, you've lucked out because DH was annoyed that I'd even pull up the fish video much less blog about it, so he suggested I take a look at this....

Totally amazing right? Have you already seen this? I'm guessing since I'm the 2,995,455th viewer you might have. Gaawwwd, why am I always late to the party? Sigh... well I'm guessing Mamere hasn't seen it. Although she does work with college students so you never know.  Sometimes she's surprisingly hip! 

I'm pretty sure there is a least one guy in that video that may (or may not) have helped me pass high school science. What? So I'm not a math-science person. I have other talents. But I totally want to hang out with these guys. They look like they'd be a riot. And of course we'd be in a pub in London, making it all the more fun. 

Anyway, here is another one of their videos that I think is amazing, freaky and hilarious all at once.

Are you laughing? I hope so!

Cheers, 

Ouiser

RecipeS of the Week ~ BEST Burgers EVER & Yummy Baked Chocolate Pudding

As you may recall from reading this, I promised LeCoeur (yes I talk to my blog... it's not weird... and don't tell me if it is) that I'd post two over the top fabulous, delicious recipes this week to make up for my utter failure to post much of anything last week. 


So, Happy RecipeS Wednesday!


I mentioned today's first recipe way back here. It comes from Bon Appetite and my wonderful MIL (who puts Martha Stewart to shame) made it during one of our summertime Texas visits years ago. Ahh, sitting by the pool sipping a cool cocktail. It's nice visiting the in-laws. but I digress....


DH immediately fell in love and asked that I get the recipe. Unless I'm making turkey burgers (cause seriously sometimes you need to eat healthy) I always make this version for a good juicy deliciously indulgent burger. 

Andouille & Beef Burgers with Caramelized Onions, Blue Cheese & Spicy Mayo
Serves 6


Spicy Mayo: Mix together and let chill about an hour before serving.
1/2 C Mayo (I love Hellman's light)
2 TBS Lime Juice 
1TBS Hot Sauce (Tx Pete rocks!) 
1 tsp Cayenne Chili Powder
1 tsp Cumin
Note: This is actually my own version of the sauce


Burgers: Mix together then form burgers. Season and let rest about 15 mins before grilling
1/2 lbs Andouille Sausage, cut into 1/4 in. cubes
3/4 C pecans, toasted and chopped (best pecans ever can be ordered here)
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef, chuck (80/20 is recommended but I usually go leaner)
Salt and Pepper


Onions: Heat oil then cook onions over low heat till caramelized (about 30-40 mins)
3 large Vidalia Onions, sliced thin (mandelin does the job well)
2 TBS Olive Oil


about 5 mins before serving toast hamburger buns then construct burger with spicy mayo, onions and don't forget the crumbled blue cheese! You'll need about 1/4 lbs but more if you like (which I do!) 

And I can't remember if I mentioned this in a previous post but DH gave me Ina Garten's latest cookbook for Valentines Day. I'm always a sucker for Ina, but you already knew that. Okay so EVERY recipe looks divine but I had a request from DFIL to make this particular dessert after our birthday dinner celebrating DMIL's birthday. All I can say is kudos to you DFIL, this was rich, decadent, fork and finger licking good. I'll warn you though, it's ridiculously rich. It really must be served with ice cream to help cut through the richness. I went with Vanilla Custard from the Dairy Godmother, natch. 


Oh and the recipe calls for one large baking dish, but next time I might try making it in individual ramkins for a cute alternate like in this photo.


Baked Chocolate Pudding
Serves 6


1/2 lbs Unsalted butter (2 sticks), plus extra to butter dish
4 Extra large eggs (I used large)
2 C Sugar
3/4 C Good cocoa powder (I used Giradelli)
1/2 C All-purpose flour
seeds scraped from 1 Vanilla bean (I used 2 tsp of vanilla extract instead)
1 TBS famboise liqueur (optional: I didn't have framboise-- a raspberry liqueur, so I substituted 2 TBS of Kahlua)
Vanilla ice cream, for serving


Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees and butter a 2 qrt baking dish. 


Melt butter and set aside. In a large bowl beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high for 5-10 minutes and until mixture is very think and a pale yellow. Next, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.


When egg-sugar mix is ready, lower speed to low and add vanilla, liqueur (if using) and the cocoa-flour mix. Mix until combined, then add the cooled butter, slowly until just combined.


Pour mixture into the prepared dish and place on a larger baking pan (I used my lasagna pan). Add enough very hot water so that it comes half way up the sides of the baking dish. Bake for exactly one hour. The center will appear very under-baked but that's good, it should  be between a brownie and a pudding. 


Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.


**Chef's note: Ina's recipe calls to make this in your standing mixer. Well mine is in a box out back in our storage shed so instead I made this with my hand mixer and I think it turned out just dandy!


I know these seem like two random recipes but they are two of my favorites (one old and one new) plus they are both over-the-top decadent, so there I found a common theme. Yay me!


Happy Noshing!


Cheers, 
Ousier

~ I love this Post ~

During my daily chat with Mamere yesterday she told me how much she was enjoying "A Bloomsbury Life"  blog that I'd recommended here and of course can be found directly to your left on the list of blogs I love.

Author Note:You'll recognize it because it's one of the few Non-Twilight blogs.

Anywhoo, I just read the utterly charming Ms. Lisa's post from Monday and I fell in love with her all over again. To say nothing about further fueling my already over the top obsession with all things British... sigh...

This post in particular is one of the reasons I love her blog so much. I just want to sashay my way into this picture and join in the fun discussions on literature and salacious gossip.... "Oh a cocktail for me? well yes please. thank you my dear."

I don't have much more to add other than to say please go take a peak at this blog! And of course feel free to curl up next to me on the sofa with your laptop and a cup of tea (or coffee in my case).

Cheers, 
Ouiser

Remember Me Premiere

3/4/10 UPDATE: I found it I found it I found it.... the link to the super funny blog post about how to get your boyfriend to take you to Remember Me! Once your read this whole post you'll get this note. Click here to read it. 


If you're part of the Twilight baptized then you can go ahead and skip ahead to the trailer cause you already know everything I'm going to say here.... 

Seriously dear friend go ahead... nothing for you to read here. With all my love and respect ... shoo!

 **glances left then right making sure the coast is clear**

Okay, now that its just us I can relish in the opportunity to be the one to tell you about this little flick. Cause seriously folks it looks drool-worthy good. I'm thinking better than a tray of buttercream frosted cupcakes but not as good as say... you know my littlest rolling over for the first time. 

Sidebar: So, yep baby deux rolled over last week. One proud mommy! Of course he's clearly our second because when mamere asked me if this was early or late for his age I was clueless. Haven't read one book for this one... poor baby deux.

Okay back to the movie....

The basic story line involves RPattz as Tyler, a wealthy, angsty, twenty-something who has a rocky (at best) relationship with his father, played by the equally smexy Pierce Brosnan. 

There's of course a girl, played by Emilie de Ravin (aka Claire from Lost) and a budding romance between the two that is sure to be hawt! I may or may not have seen a few stills from a shower scene (yes fully clothed) that is super delish!

Sidebar: Anyone else think it's a little weird to have warm fuzzy feelings for both RPattz and PBrosnan? I guess it's sorta like my issues (discussed here) with the Cullen father-son thing, but I digress... again.

So far, its getting great reviews and not just because of the handsome leading men. Apparently the dialogue, directing, acting and editing isn't too shabby either. Oh and if you're worried about figuring out how to get your husband/boyfriend/guy friend to see it with you? Well I read a hilarious post that gives LOTS of suggestions but alas I can't find it for the life of me. (Ouiser Fail)


I tried out a few on DH the other weekend as we sat in the theater waiting for Avatar to start (obviously his movie pick, but I must admit the special effects were like nothing I've ever seen!) I don't think he's "excited" to see Remember Me but I think he's willing. **fingers crossed**

Remember Me premiered in NYC last night and will be released nationwide on Friday, March 12th.

With out further adue .... I give you Remember Me, **le sigh** 

Welcome back fellow twi-hards.... pretty delicious right? 

Oh and before I forget, Saturday, March 13th is being dubbed Remember Me Saturday. You can read more about it here but in essence it's a fan event to support the cast and crew of Remember Me by boosting opening weekend sales. 

Cheers, 

Ouiser

Ode to Canada...

Morning Readers....

Hope you had a restful weekend ~ and if not I hope that you have plenty of caffeine in your system. You all know I fluctuate between coffee and wine with a few obligatory glasses of water in between for good measure. 

Not to get all "big brother" on you but recently I've noticed that I actually have a few regular readers and I'm pretty sure they are outside my immediate family. **cheers wildly** Yay, Me! 

And to those of you that are reading, please chime in with your thoughts! I would love to chat about all things. Seriously... home decor ... twilight... blogs you like... RPattz... books you're reading ... twi-fiction... food & wine. Just a few things I love! Did I mention RPattz? okay, pheww.

So on to today's post... Have you been watching the Olympics? What am I saying of course you have... Even if you don't know what curling is you've been watching (as I have) I'm sure. 

As I watched the Canadian Men's Hockey team score the winning goal in overtime yesterday I was surprised to feel relief. I mean don't get me wrong, I was cheering for our team but I was kinda routing for Canada too. I mean it seems really cold up there... like really really cold and apparently hockey is really important to them, like really really important. So I guess it would have been great if we'd won the gold, but I'm pretty sure it would have been devastating had they lost. 

So cheers to you Oh Canada and here's one of my favorite (not-actually-a-Canandian) Canadians. Do you watch "How I Met Your Mother"? If you do, this is my second favorite storyline. The first being Slap-Bet... DH and I keep arguing about how many slaps are left. I'm pretty sure it's 2 but don't quote me on that. 

Hope you have a (Robin) Sparkles kinda day!

Cheers, 

Ouiser