Monday, October 31, 2011

French Onion Soup, or the soup I made when I didn't really plan ahead

Today on the way home from work, I was like, hmm, I have a hankerin' for some french onion soup, and I probably have most of the stuff to make it.  So I stopped at the corner store, got a bunch of onions and some avocados because I love avocados, and made some soup instead of getting my butt to the gym.

I'll go tomorrow morning.  I will.  I will!  Sigh.

Well, I didn't really decide to blog about this until like an hour into the process (warning: I may have blogged about this before.  If I did, sorry), so here's what I did when I wasn't taking pictures: Get a bunch of onions.  Cut them up into strips.  Saute them with a bunch of butter for 20 minutes.  Pop them into a baking pan and into the oven because you don't have any pans that can go in the oven.  Wait an hour while you do all your dishes because you have no silverware.  Watch Grey's Anatomy on Netflix.  None of this is optional.

OKAY!  Now we're up to speed.  Take out your pan.  If it looks like this...


...you're on the right track.


Put all of that delicious stuff back into the pot on the stove, scraping all the good stuff on the bottom.  If you have a dutch oven like Andrea, you can skip all that pan-swapping nonsense.  Cry a little bit because you don't have a dutch oven in your apartment anymore.

Realize that you don't have any white wine because you drank it last week while making pie with Heather.  Google "can I substitute red wine for white wine in french onion soup."  Get no answers.


Say to yourself, aw heck, I'ma do it anyways because it'll probably be fine.  We're not perfect here, people!


Pour in a cup, or whatever's left in the bottle if you don't have a cup.  Let this cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.


Look at you, being all reduced and stuff!  Good job.  This smells heavenly.


Chop up some garlic.


Why is it green?  Ponder this.  Shrug and chop it up anyways.  Put it in the pot.


Pour in a bunch of beef broth and a bunch of chicken broth.  Do a face-palm when you see this picture.


Add some of this stuff in.  Don't bother to flip the picture because you're lazy.  Hint: it's Worcestershire sauce if you couldn't read it.


Bring to a boil, then bring heat down to low.  Put the cover on halfway because you're not sure whether to cover it or not so you figure that's the best option.

Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.  Forget to take a picture because you're in a rush to get to bed.


Look at this spoonful of delicious soup in glory and wonder.  Eat some.  It's hot.  Blow on it first.

You can also find the recipe on ThePioneerWoman.com.  But you won't get my colored commentary.  You might be able to make a proper soup though.  And for the record... the red wine worked just fine and was quite delicious.

Now I shall go to bed because I have to get my butt up for the gym in the morning.  It's going to be a long winter ahead.

Happy Halloween, otherwise known as, I cannot freaking believe that it's November.
Courtney

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Hump Day

Happy Hump Day, people!  It's Wednesday, which is my favorite day of the week, because it's 12th Street Wednesday Day.  Ever since I found out about my new job, we've gathered at 12th Street Ale House down on 12th and 2nd on Wednesday to chill out, watch Jeopardy, and take advantage of the best happy hour in town.  But I mean, it's mostly for the Jeopardy, even though I'm really terrible.  And also for the fact that I'm trying to finagle my way behind the bar tonight.  Because that sounds like a really excellent idea for everyone.

Wednesday also means that it's magazine day at work!  Which basically means that we get seventeen thousand magazines delivered to my desk and I scan all of them for relevant articles (and delicious food pictures because I'm pretty much a fiend).  And magazines come in the mail.  Which reminds me of mail.  Which brings me to the following blog topic.

I have to introduce you to someone.  He's someone very special to me and we spend quality time together every day.


Who is that hiding in my drawer?  Why it's...


A happy little whale!


That opens letters!  It's a letter opener.  Hence why is opens letters.  And it's a happy whale.  Who is my buddy.

Hello, whale.  Welcome to the interwebs.

Today is a busy day, so that's all for now, but I'm debating video-blogging ("vlogging," as the kids say these days) my Halloween costume this weekend if it's funny enough.  So like, look forward to that.  Or something.

Have a happy day, kiddos!

Love,
Courtney

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Saturday Night

Sooo it's Saturday night at 12:30am (which I guess would make it Sunday morning).  And I'm sitting at home in bed.


But I'm cool with it since I'm pretty sleepy.  I got these...


...sweatpants on because it's brr cold in this basement.  Which I love because I love to bundle.


I went to go see this bunch of misfits known as the Mimes and Mummers in The Drowsy Chaperone tonight.  They were all fantastic and I wasn't even sad that I wasn't part of the show because they did so well.  It was a bit of a weird show in and of itself, but they were funny and entertaining and I hope I cheered loud enough.


I even put on makeup.  But mostly for my love Chris Ingrao who basically could sing the phone book and sound amazing.  No, really.  And he tap dances too!

A bunch of alumni went out beforehand to Emilia's for dinner, which I wish I had taken pictures of, but I didn't.  In lieu of those, why don't we look at some pictures from last week?


Hi friends!  Isn't it great being old now?


Look at that birthday boy dance.


Uh yeah so it started raining and guess which smart kids didn't have umbrellas...

But moving back to now... I wanted a snack.


It's in this bowl!


Peas!


Oops, one fell out onto the keyboard.  I ate it anyways.


I love peas!


Yummmm.


A weird midnight snack?  Yes.  Doing it anyways?  Yes.


But now they're all gone...


...and I'm sleepy.


So it's Saturday night and I'm sitting at home in bed.  And now I'm going to sleep.  And I'm 100% okay with that.

Good night!
Courtney

Friday, October 7, 2011

The Olive Oil Saga

In honor of a three day weekend that I don't get, decorating my apartment, loving my first week of work, learning SO MUCH about wine, having a clean kitchen, Friday night, and almost being out of laundry, I now present to you...

The Olive Oil Saga: A True Story



Guys, I have a problem.


It's really bothering me.


Do you see this olive oil?


I said, do you SEE THIS OLIVE OIL??


I can't get the cap off.


I tried as hard as I could...


...but it just won't come off!


What to DOOO???


I just wanna cook this onion...


...but I CAN'T!!


Maybe I can use these scissors to help (unsafe).


Noitstillwon'tcomeoffff


And now it's DAMAGED!


BUT WAIT!


OHMYGOSH!!


It came off!  Now I can...


...do this!!!


And this!!!  (Those are onions, photobooth isn't the best camera in the world)


So happy.


I love you, olive oil.


And you, kind readers, for your support.

Happy Friday!
Courtney