82nd Annual Academy Awards

I have Oscar fever!

I go through the year not really paying attention to movies. As the ultimate multi-tasker, it's hard for me to commit 3 hours to just one thing.

Then,

the week before the Oscars -

it hits me  

I want to throw an Oscar Party

...but

...the Oscars are on a Sunday night
...and last forevar.

So, no party this year 

but

next year,

 you're invited

What:  Pre-83rd Annual Academy Awards Party

When:Saturday before the Oscars

Where: stay tuned!

In case you aren't sure who the 2010 nominees are, here you go!

Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air


Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner


Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep


Directing: Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air, Precious

Note:  These are the movies I've seen.

First Birthday Lunch

Today my friends from work took me to Pei Wei for lunch

in order to kick off my month birthday celebration.

It was delicious.

15 26 days to go

Wine Snob Confession #5

This wine has a fun name! I had tried it before several years ago.

This is an Australian Grenache (Red).  It's light and fruity.

Not one of my favorites, but I might drink it again with the right person !

Check out this site, Snooth to get ratings of some of your favorite wines.

I was told once at a tasting that there are 3 S's in wine tasting

Swirl, Smell, Sip

To learn more about what you're seeing when you swirl , what you're smelling and what you're tasting

check out this Wine 101 article from bottlenotes.

The Keg

This is one of my fav-O-rite birthday traditions.

I think I've been going now for at least 5 years.

It started with The Keg offering free Steak & Lobster dinner for your birthday.  I think it was last year when they started offering the free Prime Rib.

I always go with my friend, Susan. 

We  Susan always spend way too much money even with the free meal. 

We get a bottle of wine and start out with the Baked Goat Cheese.

This is usually why my birthday draws out all month. 

 The coupon expires 3/31, and it seems we always wait until the last minute -

 which is fine with me...

it's something I really look forward to.

16 27 days to go

Birthday Wishes

When being on mailing lists pays off...

17 - 28 days to go

Whimsical

I just ♥ cupcakes.

They just bring a smile to my face.

I bought these for my young nieces but never got to use them.

I have place settings on my dining room and breakfast room tables.

I think I'm going to place a cupcake candle at each place setting in honor of my birthday month.

(Is this when I admit that I still haven't taken down my ♥ display from Valentines?)

18 - 29 days to go

Terilli's in Dallas

I woke up this morning to hear that one of my favorite restaurants is on fire.

It has spread and now several restaurants next to it on Lower Greenville are also on fire.

This makes me very sad !

March Madness

No, I am not talking about basketball!

This is my birthday month.

I literally celebrate all month.

I even got my first e-card today from a co-worker

and my birthday isn't until March 20th.

19 30 days to go

PW's Chicken Fried Steak

I have never made chicken fried steak before. I'm not really much of a fryer.

Ryan likes chicken fried steak, so of course, I decided to tackle it since it is in The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook.

My dad needed us on Sunday, so I decided to take all the ingredients and cook a Sunday dinner at his house.

Menu

Chicken Fried Steak with gravy

PW's Mashed Potatoes

Peas - Le Sueur

Caesar Salad

Sorry, didn't get many pictures.

Figure you guys have all seen peas and salad.

I'm pretty proud of my first chicken fried steak and gravy attempt.

PW's recipe is a keeper!

or

as Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives

  (my fav-O-rite Food Network Show)

would say

"Winner winner chicken dinner"

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars

On Saturday as I was blog stalking, cruising, surfing

I came across this recipe

on  this blog

http://www.meandmypinkmixer.blogspot.com/

She got it from this blog

http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/

who got it from this blog

http://www.sisterscafe.blogspot.com/

I had planned to make this recipe for cookie cupcakes

A co-worker brought these into work last week, and they were awesome.

I  didn't have cinnamon chips needed for the cookie cupcakes, so I decided to make the chocolate chip toffee bars instead.

I used "fat free" sweet condensed milk. ghiradelli bittersweet chocolate chips,  and Heath Toffee Chips that were leftover from the Valentine Candy Heart Massacre.

Just let me tell you

this recipe is quick and easy

and, oh boy...

are these ever so rich and gooey and good!

Snack Time

Ok. I promise.

This is the last time I will mention my trip to Central Market last week.

I just found so many fun things...

Those of you who know me

(and those of you who have spent anytime on my blog)

know that I love food.

I try to eat healthy

but

it is just so hard

 so

when I find something healthy, of course, I get very excited

Kim's Magic Pop

they taste like rice krispies

what do you eat them with?

Well, I'm still trying to figure it out

I like them plain

 At Central Market, they served them with the lemon wasabi sauce

I shared with you earlier in the week

they also go well with queso

(which probably takes away from the healthy aspect, but velveeta is 1/3 less fat than cheddar cheese)