Our Story

If you missed the first episode of this new special series:

I'd highly recommend that you see if The History Channel is repeating it in your area and start watching.  THC has been plugging this series for what feels like 6 months with commercials during our  favorite THC shows (American Pickers, Pawn Stars) so we gave in to the pressure and gave it a try last Sunday night.  It's great -- the CGI effects are amazing.  After watching this, if you don't feel grateful to our Founding Father and Mothers, well, you're made of stone.  In all fairness, the commentary is a little weak (I doubt Michael Douglas is an expert on the Pilgrims but he apparently had something to say about them).   Other than that, I really recommend it.  The second episode airs this Sunday night.  

Have a nice weekend!

UPDATE:  I fell asleep during last Sunday's episode.  Oops.  Hope it gets a little more interesting for me.

50s Friday

My friends and I look this excited when we talk about mops...

but only if there is a pitcher of sangria involved.

Joe 4, Julia 0

Go here to learn the history of these cooking posts....

I made this as an appetizer on Easter and it was good enough for us to eat as "dessert" earlier this week.  It takes literally 10 minutes to pull together: 

Brie and Pear Galette

1 Trader Joe's Pie Crust, thawed

4 oz. Brie (rind removed), cubed (I used a little more)

1 pear, thinly sliced (I prefer a large pear)

1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

fresh ground black pepper

Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Place the pie dough on a baking sheet and scatter half the Brie over the center, leaving the edges clean.  Arrange the sliced pears on top of the Brie.  Scatter the pecans on top, and then add the remaining Brie.  Fold the edges of the dough in to create a "picture frame" around the filling leaving the center exposed.  Grind a little black pepper over the filling and bake 20-25 minutes, until the crust is golden (I had to bake mine 25-27 mins but that might be my oven).  Cut into wedges or squares to serve.  Serves 4-6.

I wish my food photos were as attractive as the Pioneer Woman's.

The spotted cookie sheet doesn't help....

Mysterious Mallards Roam Burbank

"There's a duck on our front lawn."

Those are the words I heard Lee say this morning as I was hurrying around getting ready for work.  I joined him at the window and, sure enough, there was a beautiful Mallard duck sitting on our grass.  Where did it come from??  It's not like we live near a creek or pond -- we're smack-dab in the middle of suburbia.  In fact, we're on the edge of suburbia, as there's a McDonald's 2 blocks away.  I was worried the duck was hurt so I grabbed a piece of bread to see if he was hungry enough to follow my trail of bread crumbs.  He did -- and then I saw another duck!  Two ducks on our lawn!  Nate and Lee were at the window watching me.  The ducks weren't super impressed with my bread (perhaps I should have toasted the bread since it was 7:15am??) but they eventually ate all of it.  I went back inside and joined my guys in watching the ducks waddle around our grass.  I thought about those ducks all day  at work and, when I got home, I asked Lee what had happened to them -- he didn't know; they vanished as mysteriously as they had appeared.

Spot the Cook Men

Griffith Park Carousel

50s Friday Returns!

For all of you sewers out there....

don't you just love a green sewing machine?

Earth Day Tip

Happy Earth Day!  I thought I'd share a recycling tip with you.  It's not a mind-blowing "a-ha" kind of tip but it may spark some creativity and recycling in your own house.

 

For some reason, old houses tend to have very tall kitchen cabinets....I've owned a step-stool for years because every apartment I've lived in in my adult life (all built before 1940) had kitchen cabinets that were ridiculously high.  I wish someone could explain to me why this is since people back then were probably shorter than we are now.  Anyway, in my previously homes, I used the very top shelf to hold cookie cutters, my Thanksgiving platter, a soup tureen, etc. -- all stuff that wasn't used a lot.  When we moved into this house last year, I decided to try something else.  Now I store my special occasion table linens on the top shelf.  And how do I store them way up there? 

Can you tell what those are?  They're zippered plastic bags that you get when you buy sheets, blankets, towels, etc.  I could never part with them (another tip is using them to hold your shoes in luggage so they won't get your clothes dirty when you travel) and I'm glad I found a good use for them.

Wow, I really need to straight up our mug/cup shelf.  Embarrassing. 

Did They Braid Each Other's Hair and Crank Call Boys Afterwards??

Pillow Fight Day was April 3rd -- we missed out, didn't we?  The Los Angeles fight was held in Pershing Square, around the corner from my office building in Downtown Los Angeles.  There are a couple people in this video who had some serious issues to work out apparently...sheesh.

March 16th

This is my calendar at work -- did you know this March "holiday" existed?  I'm going to mark it down for next year so I won't be able to miss it!