Cow Fail

This just made me laugh... slightly inappropriate "Cow Fail."

Nothing to Do With Cooking, But I Couldn't Resist...

Apparently, this was part of the reason for my long commute to work this morning... PIGS!!



Can you believe it?

B-E-A-utiful Kitchens

It's another gloomy, cold day in North Carolina.  It was nearly impossible to get out of bed this morning with little-to-no sunlight in our apartment, making the morning all the more dreadful.  Yesterday was equally as dreadful outside, so I spent my evening perusing the internet looking for recipes, pictures, cooking gadgets, and kitchens that piqued my interest (or at least made me smile).  

I have shared numerous recipes with y'all, but what I really enjoyed looking at last night were all the beautiful kitchens.  I'd LOVE to take a little from this one here, and add a bit from that one, a dash from another, and a hint of another to combine into my ultimate dream kitchen.  Like a great big island from one, windows from another, a breakfast nook from another, granite countertops from this one, cabinets from that one, a pot-filler faucet above the stove, a hood from that one, a SubZero fridge from here and a double sink plus bar sink from there.  A girl can dream, can't she?

And I found so many kitchens that I just loved, I can't help but want to share them too!  There are plenty more to come.

I love the bookshelves built into the end of the island; they are perfect for storing all of your cookbooks and family recipes.  The warm wood, floating cabinets above the island, and U-shaped design make for an almost perfect kitchen!

These funky cabinets add color without overwhelming the space and keep the stainless steel hood and stove in check, making it not too funky and not too modern.

The hard wood floor is painted with a decorative diamond pattern and provides a great alternative to tiles... and paired with the teal cabinets and a wall full of windows -- perfection!

  

I love this neutral kitchen - keeping the materials grounded in nature (the wood stools are awesome!) offset the harshness some kitchens can take on with too much stainless steel and hard surfaces

I've always liked the idea of chalkboard paint in a kitchen ever since a childhood friend had it in their house.  Here, it adds fun to an otherwise sterile black-and-white kitchen.

Normally I don't like dark kitchens because they can feel dark and overbearing to me, but this kitchen kept it light and airy, even with dark granite and dark wood cabinets, by incorporating light walls, floors, and great big windows.  The huge island is amazing (especially with the stainless steel hood as a focal point), but the movable butcher's block cart makes it flexible and great for entertaining.

The lighting in this kitchen is to DIE for - warm and inviting with the mix of wood stains and stainless steel appliances.  This kitchen also has great drawer pulls - sleek and not too dainty.

And the ultimate dream -- a pot filler faucet above the stove!  Plus, the stainless against the neutral granite and subway tile backsplash is beautiful.

  

Ahh... Someday....

(all kitchen photos are from myhomeideas.com)

Cow Fail

And yet another "Cow Fail."  This photo somehow managed to be adorably sweet and yet disgusting, all in one shot!  I think this guy got a little confused...

Cow Fail

Continuing the hi-larious series of "Cow Fails," I had to share this one because it makes me giggle.

I've Got Sunshine, On a Cloudy Day (and Chocolate on the Brain)

On this rainy day, I can only hope that all of this rain is just prepping for some beautiful spring flowers.
Now I did give up sweets for Lent, but Godiva sent me this offer and I just couldn't believe how cute they were.

(Thanks for tempting me on Day 1 Godiva, BTW)

Goidva Chocolate Tulips (on sale - 3 for $15)

Check 'em out and enjoy them for me...
Spring Flower Lollipops - Set of 3 at Godiva.com

And of course you know the trick with real tulips... 

add a penny to the water in the tulip's vase to keep them from opening to soon!

Wheel of Baking...

Cow Fail

So I found a whole series of photos online of what they call "Cow Fails."  Cows are funny to begin with, but when they do silly/stupid things, they're even more entertaining.  

I'll post a few of my favorites from time to time, and hopefully put a smile on your face too!

The Incredible, Edible Egg

http://bit.ly/hv7K1H

I Like Their Style

Apparently anything and everything can be celebrated with cupcakes.  Published by Zagat Buzz, (click here to read the Zagat Survey's blog), the photo was apparently tweeted yesterday by a correspondent for Al Jazeera (the international news network headquartered in Quatar).

Even the Egyptian Freedom Movement can be celebrated with cupcakes.  I like their style.

**Notice the little hearts in the upper left corner - maybe celebrating Valentine's Day too??

Cooking for Two

buy on Amazon for your favorite couple, or for you and yours.  (It's also great for those of you that live by yourself or with a roommate.)

"...Tea for two. That's what it's all about, right? So how come every recipe you pick up says "serves 4 to 6"? Or more! What do you do when you want macaroni and cheese, but don't want to be reheating it for three nights? Or a couple of cookies, but don't want to be tempted by two dozen sitting on the counter all week?

Brimming with 120 smaller-serving, big-taste recipes, Cooking for Two offers cooks familiar favorites such as Pasta Bolognese, Chicken Pot Pie, and Mushroom Barley Soup, as well as new dishes for today's tastes like Pork Satay Salad and Snapper Fillets Sautéed with Orange and Pecans.

Simply cutting down larger recipes leads to wasted ingredients. But Bruce and Mark have developed each recipe so you buy only what you need, and use all of what you buy. Instead of opening a can of vegetable stock only to use three tablespoons, use the liquid the dried mushrooms have soaked in. If an onion is too large for a recipe, chop a shallot instead.

The dessert chapters are filled with cookies, puddings, and cakes, all designed for two servings. Small-batch baking requires strict attention to detail. A regular egg can be too big for a small batch of six cookies, so they suggest quail eggs or the easy-to-find pasteurized egg substitutes, which you can measure out in tablespoons.

Truly a cookbook for everyday use, each recipe is labeled as quick (ready in minutes with minimal cooking), moderate (requires a bit more preparation or cooking), or leisurely (perfect for quiet celebrations or weekend meals) to help you decide which dish best fits into your day.
With ingredient and equipment guides, as well as tips on how to stock your pantry to avoid those there's-nothing-in-the-house-so-let's-go-out moments, Cooking for Two will surely become the cookbook you reach for every night of the week.

It's just two perfect..."

How tempting is a piece of cheese?