Monday, December 26, 2011

multicultural nondenominational christmas culinary extravanaza

longest title ever.
what do you get when you sit down to xmas dinner with 2 atheists, a fallen german catholic, 2 japanese shinto, a muslim, a jew, and a vegetarian buddhist? 
amazing food, friends, and very little talk of religion.  just what the holidays should be!

food:  beef sauerbraten, pork bierfilet, balsamic parm green beans and cauliflower, honey mustard brussel sprouts, roasted veggies, matzo ball soup, rice, wine, beer, and 3 kinds of cake


Saturday, December 24, 2011

ginger and an egg sandwich

since i was too lazy to go to 2 different grocery stores in search of candied ginger, i made some!
i used a recipe that i added to pinterest and despite some doubts...came out pretty well!


liz's xmas laundry

  • jacket: romeo & juliet couture
  • dress: marshalls/tj maxx/somethingsomething
  • scarf: from skirt hem
  • dress: kohls [cut off last year]
  • sweater: inc-macys
  • leggings: charlotte russe
  • scarf: h&m
  • sweater: ny&co
  • tee: banana republic
  • skirt: thrifted
  • vest: inc-macys
  • tee: gap
  • skirt: thrifted
  • leggings: charlotte russe [i have like 4 pair]

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

bigger than a bread box

no one even knows what a bread box is.  regardless... i made bread.  and we ate one loaf and the other was stored in... a bag.
a really poufy ciabatta [with over-zealous stippling] and a normal looking loaf
loafy mc loaferton
mmm salt granules
bread cooling on the nice clean stove [it never stays that way..].  the random shine is from olive oil spray to make the salt stick.  not enough salt.  or oil.  maybe an egg-wash next time.

oh yea.  and the kicker is... our thermostat is set to 65 during the day.  the bread had to rise in my bedroom right next to the heater. 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

xmas decor

after seeing several ornament trees on pinterest and blogs and realizing... i'm not going home for xmas for logistical reasons, i decided to do some quick decorating!

the glass balls were $2 at rite aid [too lazy to go anywhere farther with better selection] and tying them turned out to be a pain in the ass.  fishing line is...really hard to see.  cos its clear. 
the other decorations consist of lights left up from the burlesque party, beads from a mardi gras party a couple years ago, and cranes that have been hanging in my room for quite some time.  i am hoping to find some cheap greens but i have some lingering fears that frank will chew them up and then barf pine needles everywhere.  and/or destroy them.

a sign from jamaica

jamaica station that is. 

in my 3.5 years in long island, i have blearily trudged through jamaica station between the lirr and the airtrain, making the "convenient" trip between jfk and home.  in my hour wait this morning i noticed the mta lines that leave jamaica are my initials! 
idk wtf kind of sign that is, actually.  be more observant?  learn how to read?  do/dont take the subway? 

oh well.  that will probably be my last trip through jamaica/airtrain/jfk EVER!  hopefully.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

liz's laundry


i had to include this.  i havent worn it for real yet...but my newly made petticoat and my 40's dress that i thrifted and repaired the zipper.  i planned on wearing the dress without a top under and just pinning the front closed but it isnt quiiite right.  so tank top underneath it is.  and perhaps in white instead of black.

obligatory frank post



there is probably lore somewhere about letting sleeping kitties lie.  BUT THEY ARE SO ADORABLE!  especially cos frank has to take the time to knead my pseudo headboard pillow into shape which takes him about 10 minutes of half-closed blissful eyed prodding, rumbling like the little truck he thinks he is

rum balls

or more appropriately, no-bake mocha bonbons.
2 T rum
2 T instant coffee
9 oz package chocolate wafers [famous chocolate if you can find them]
1 stick butter [room temp]
1 teas salt

mix rum and coffee and set aside.  crush wafers in food processor or using my graham cracker crust method until finely ground.  set aside just under 1/4 cup.  cream butter, coffee mixture, and salt until combined, add crumb and mix until uniform.  using small cookie scoop, portion out 24 balls and roll until rounded.  freeze about 10 minutes and then roll in remaining chocolate crumbs.  refrigerate whatever you dont immediately eat.  and/or share.. 

i also made short-stack cookies.  basically sugar cookies with maple syrup thrown in for flavoring.  and yes they do taste like buttery fluffy pancakes.  with just a little crisp around the edges.  im pretty sure i got the recipe out of a baking-mystery-book but i cant guarantee anything.
3/4 C butter [softened]
1 C sugar
1 egg
1/4 C syrup
2 teas baking soda
1 teas salt
1 teas vanilla
2 C flour
1/4 C sugar [extra]

cream butter and sugar, add egg, syrup, soda, salt, vanilla, and mix well.  slowly add flour, scraping down sides as needed.  chill dough for half hour.  using small cookie scoop, portion out walnut-sized blobs, roll in sugar, flatten slightly, and arrange with atleast 1" of space around each.  [they flatten out quite a bit]  bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until just darkened on the edges.  immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool on rack.

linking up to ftlob and 33 shades of green's tasty tuesdays


Sunday, December 11, 2011

petticoat junction

i made a petticoat! 
i kind of mushed these tutorials together...


Source: pettipond.com via Liz on Pinterest

and after some math errors... got everything sorted. 
i only put ribbon on 2 of the 4 layers cos not only is it royal pain in the ass... i didnt order enough.  but top layer so as not to get caught on the dress/skirt im wearing and bottom layer as to not get caught on tights/leggings underneath
and an adjustable bow-tie waist.  no poufy elastic business.  and well its not quite as fluffy as id like, but its definitely a more every-day accessory than costume.  expect outfit pics soonish.

Friday, December 9, 2011

one last savers trip

welp.  im moving in 18 days.  i have officially finished my master's coursework and have turned in what is hopefully a semi-final draft of my thesis/paper.  packing.... has not started.  but i did sort out about 1/4 of my closet, had a sale, and dumped the rest at savers.

of course i couldnt drive all the way there and not go in.. i could have just gone to goodwill's donation center.  jeez.  for $39 i found some pretty awesome stuff and should it survive the washer, it will probably all get worn in the next few weeks.
velveteen blazer with the most adorable tag ever
a chinese dress with tags still on-brand is honrn and the tag is entirely in chinese... with these type symbols-hand wash, no bleach, hang dry, medium iron.  iiinteresting.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

mess-free graham cracker crust

pie pan, 4 cup measuring cup, small glass with flat bottom

dump in 1 package graham crackers, smush with glass until powdery

1 1/2 cup crumbs
add 6 T melted butter, 1/3 C sugar


mix into sand, squish in pie pan, bake at 375 for 7 min

let cool and fill with deliciousness
in this case-vanilla pudding with some cranberry applesauce mixed in.

linking up to 33 shades of green's tasty tuesday!

once there were two sweet potato patties

..one was sweet corn and one was spicy thai.  they reluctantly made their way into my belly.  and all was good. 

sweet potato corn fritters
adapted from food network
  • 1 C cooked sweet potato
  • 4 T melted butter
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 C panko
  • 2 T flour
  • 1/2 C frozen corn
  • salt & pepper
  • canola for frying
smash/mix well, portion into 8 blobs
fry on both sides
cool, eat, and realize the little bastards should have breaded.  bahh. but according to a roommate, delicious with cranberry apple sauce

Monday, December 5, 2011

liz's laundry

disclaimer:  first outfit was for a sin city themed party.  when we arrived, it seemed physics and computer science phds know how to drink and be trashy but generally do not know how to follow a theme.  needless to say..we were home before 1.
  • faux fur wrap: hand made
  • black tube top: skirt from h&m
  • pleather skirt: charlotte russe
  • ridiculously constricting tights that tore after 2 hours: kohls
  • sweater and knit tights: uniqlo
  • tank: target
  • shorts: resized from charlotte russe
  • top: esprit
  • tank: h&m
  • skirt: thrifted
  • leggings: charlotte russe
  • booties: macys
linking up to patti's visible monday and tammy's trending through the decades
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