Bubble Pizza

I owe this recipe to my dear friend Deena who I used to share a standing Wednesday night dinner with in the good ol' days of 90210.

There are many different variations to this comfort food gem. I'll start with the original and then highlight variations at the bottom.

Barbecue Chicken Bubble Pizza
3 tubes regular size refrigerated biscuits.
1 18.5 oz bottle of barbecue sauce (I like Ken Davis)
4 chicken breasts, roasted on the bone
1/2 red onion sliced thin
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Tear each biscuit into thirds and roll into a ball. Mix in a bowl with barbecue sauce. Pour into 9x13 cake pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Remove cooked chicken from bone and dice. Spread over biscuit/barbecue sauce mixture. Sprinkle onions and cheese over top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes.

Delicious variations:

• Taco pizza style: substitute 1 1/2 pounds cooked ground beef for chicken and Ortega taco sauce for barbecue sauce. Use cheddar instead of mozzarella. Service with fresh tomato, black olives, salsa and sour cream.

• Bacon Spaghetti style: substitute 1 1/2 pounds cooked ground beef for chicken and add half about diced cooked bacon, Hunts traditional spaghetti sauce for the barbecue sauce. Use white onion instead of red. Stick with mozzarella.

• Meatball Sub style: substitute 1 1/2 pounds cooked meatballs for chicken. Use marinara sauce instead of barbecue. Use provolone instead of mozzarella.

Anti-Kristen

She is the yin to my yang... A thin, blonde, heart on the sleeve true girls girly girl to my fluffy brunette repressed nerdom.

She waited in line with me for five hours today to get a book signed. Her patience was my reward--both in the autograph and five hours of nylon-roped-waiting-line quality time.

I am thankful for my anti-Kristen, my friend Kristin... endless recipes and home improvement ideas and laughter abound when we're together. She has been breaking me down for years, she'll soften me up yet and I'm the better for it.

Julie, my BFF

I was going to wait until her birthday or until the third Thursday of the month (our standing date) but I just don't think I can hold out until then.

Julie and I met in 1995 when we both worked in real estate. We hit it off and became fast friends and the adventures ensued. We've grown together, took a break and grew while we were apart and when we reconnected, we picked up where we left off.

Julie probably knows me better than anyone and I am so very thankful for every adventure we've had and inevitable bouts of laughter. If our friendship had a soundtrack there would be 10-15 soundbites and then a series of laugh tracks. I just plain love her.

Some of Julie is always with me and even when I'm alone and something strikes me as funny I mutter "standing." I hope everyone is blessed enough to have a Julie... not mine though, get your own.

My Hair Stylist Bonnie

On average, I get a haircut every 8-10 weeks and similarly I average about one compliment per week about my hair... And what girl doesn't like compliments on her appearance. Not this girl, bring it.

My Bonnie story is one of those small world stories. I was getting a hair cut after Bush "won" the election in 2000. My stylist at the time as an adorable young fellow at a chic Aveda salon downtown, he was also a staunch republican. His politics did not typically effect his performance but he was so lathered up over the burgeoning legal battles in Florida to settle the election he took it out on my coif. I left the salon looking the unholy love child of Dorothy Hamill and Moe from the Three Stooges.

After a couple weeks of trying to make it work I booked the earliest appointment at a nearby salon. An appointment with Bonnie. I arrived at the salon to see a familiar face. Bonnie Wibbles whose locker was next to mine all through high-school

She's been doing my hair, and that of a few friends since then. She's also a friend a my partner in sushi adventures. I'm thankful for Bonnies steady hand and her eye for symmetry when it matters and when it doesn't.

Thirty Days of Thankful--Hut Hut Hike

In honor of my favorite holiday and the true sentiment behind it (I'm not just a fiend for turkey) I'm endeavoring to blog every day during the month of November and each entry will feature what I'm top of mind thankful for.

Football
I have memories of my childhood watching the Sunday game with my Dad. The Purple Pride was in their hey-day and playing football outdoors.

Nowadays, I watch my football solo steeped in Sunday rest. I also watch fantasy football players perform or fail me--more failing me than performing this year... but at least the Vikes are on a streak. (Yay falls oh so very short)

I love this time of year and am thankful for the only major league sport I follow that punctuates it and thankful for the time it means with friends at draft parties ahead of the season and smack talk to start the last 16 weeks of the year.

High Praise

So, I have precious few readers. I suppose this is appropriate seeing as how I have been logging precious few entries.

Most of them love me based on blood, marriage or... years of service. But tonight I am writing about one reader who I haven't known very long and don't know super well however I like her a lot. She's one cool broad and not just because she has great taste in blogs and pics.

Jen, JRO... this one's for you. Thanks for the readership and the camera tips (am still beaming from your feedback ;).

If Coors Light had a "Real B*tch&s of Genius" marketing campaign I would probably have a link just for you, instead here's one for Amy (one of my all time faves) that if it doesn't kick her gagger in, it will at least make her tear up with laughter.

MST3K for Girls

Is this title sexist? Yes.
Is this title accurate? Yes!

First off, let me say I love, Love, LOVED Mystery Science Theater 3000 and still do. Long since done and not to be found in syndication I miss it however it only ever nourished half of my witty, biting sarcastic appetite--the grade B movie loving inner nerd. I found a new and fantastic substitute tonight by accident for my girly side.

The show is called Whatever, Martha on FLN (Fine Living Network) and it is quite simply Alexis Stewart (Martha's daughter) and her sidekick Jennifer (who bears a shocking resemblance in look and style to my dear friend Kati Cunningham) and they basically just rip on Martha and her vignettes. They are merciless and seemingly unfiltered. And what really cracks me up is that Martha is an exec. producer on the show so she is "in on it" which relieves me of any guilt.

OMG... to marry up witty and cutting rips with one of my favorite topics; cooking, crafts, housekeeping and cooking--basically all things Martha--is just plain good TV.

But in all honesty...
Could one of my chicas and I do it better? Hell yes!

That's a lotta douche

As context know that douche and all variants is one of my favorite non-curse pejoratives. Amy, my officemate and friend, was throwing some smack talk my way and so I returned the volley with a harsh "quit being such a douche." Needless to say she took issue.

But not only did she take issue, she was curious and threw douche into the Googler. She came upon a medical supply website that comes complete with instructions. We roared with laughter reading the instructions below and by the final douche I think all was forgiven.

1. Sterilize the Enema Set by keeping them in luke-warm water for 3 to 4 hours (overnight) and wash the douche can properly.
2. Fix the douche tube with douche bag by inserting bottom nozzle of douche bag in one end of douche tube.
3. Fix the stop cock* on the other end of douche tube.
4. Fill the douche bag with luke-warm water to be used for enema.
5. Fix the rectal/vagina** pipe with stop cock.
6. Place the douche bag at a height to ensure good flow of water.
7. Lubricate the Rectal/Vaginal pipe/nozzle with vaseline.***
8. Turn the knob to let the air out of the rubber tube.
9. Prepare yourself for enema. (Please ensure that you are in a good health and are able to carry enema activities.)
10. Insert the rectal/vaginal pipe into the anus/vagina and turn the knob of stop cork so that it allows flow of water through it.
11. Take out the rectal/vaginal pipe when enema is over. Wash again all the enema equipment with warm water.

*Stop cock... as if this could get any funnier.
**Notice that these instructions are for a multi-purpose douche, irrespective of your personal plumbing.
***Hmmm petroleum jelly is the generic term... use of Vaseline should be capitalized. tsk tsk tsk.

Good times Amy, good times.

I was duped.

Yesterday, I showed up at a birthday party for Julie's (one of my BFF) youngest kidlet, Maggie. Julie and I had plans to hit the town after. I think I was probably her exit strategy to discourage hangers on. Julie is thoughtfully prudent with her invitations to events like this lest folks like me feel obligated to attend. I was kind of excited to get the invite. I like Maggie a lot and haven't seen a number of Julie's family members for a awhile and was looking forward to catching up.

However, that was not the party I stepped into. She said the party would run from 2:00-4:00 and I could come by anytime after 2:00. I was out and about running errands and arrived at about 2:20 and while I should have been tipped off by the mention of a Hannah Montana theme and the lack of cars in the driveway and street I entered boldly to find a herd of 4-year-old girls and none of the adults I was expecting.

That was a lot of little girls and I earned my cupcake and the two Guinness at dinner later. Yikes. Jule, you've now got your first entry. Next time I'll ask for the full guest list.

This Week in Pumpkin: Caribbean Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup

An easy soup I whipped on a chilly Sunday for a visit from my Madagascar travel buddy and favorite vegetarian Joanna. Super easy and uniquely tasty.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
1 14-ounce can light unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup canned vegetable broth
4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
3/4 teaspoon grated lime peel

Preparation:
Stir cumin in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat 30 seconds. Add pumpkin, beans, coconut milk, broth and 3 tablespoons cilantro. Bring soup to boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 3 minutes to blend flavors. Mix in lime juice and lime peel. Season soup with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon cilantro.

My Kind of Town, Chicago Is.

I just got back from my first grown up weekend in Chicago (I’d been before as a kid [Great America] and in 2000 on a 14 week project in the suburbs) and an awesome stay at the Brown B&B.

The hospitality of the proprietors is eclipsed only by their company—and perhaps their adorable four-legged bell-hop Jackson. We had bluebird weather and the most amazing city as a backdrop to our exciting agenda. I would upload pictures but I am on the couch but my camera is two rooms and my feet still hurt.

• Friday: An early morning flight had me in the Windy City in time for a brownstone stroll from Kate’s to lunch. Then a city tour and wine and snack replenishment before settling in one of Chicago’s fine pubs, Halligan Bar where the Guinness flows freely for $3 a glass. We spent a while there then dined on pizza.
• Saturday: A leisurely breakfast and coffee was the fuel we needed for a Chicago Segway Tour along the lake front. It takes a while to get the hang of it but dang it is fun! And makes shocking use of every little ligament and tendon in your feet and ankles. Sunshine and the 7.5mph wind in our hair (top speed) plus a spicy Mexican lunch and strong margarita’s at El Jardin Café required a nap to recover. We dined at Calo Ristorante for dinner where we had the most amazing lobster ravioli. And tiramisu take out dessert for later.
• Sunday: A 12-minute stroll to the Addison El station, directly behind Wrigley Field, where we picked up the Red Line to take us to Soldier Field for the Bears versus Vikings. I had heard ahead of time that Bears fans could be, er, um difficult but that was not the case. We found ourselves surrounded by good humored fans who tolerated my purple pride. Dinner at Vines on Clark and it was time to pack and brave the traffic to O’Hare.

My quality time with Kate and Jason at the Brown B&B had come to an end but memories that will last a lifetime, pictures that I’ll share soon and cravings that will haunt me until I can visit again.

Someone is Always Listening

Sometimes I need a little mental sorbet. Something to just clear out my mental palate and what better than the comedy of people watching without leaving my cube. Enter overheardinminneapolis.com. A site for people to post the oddities they overhear on any given day anywhere they might hear it. Think of it as voyeurism for you ears.

And sometimes they just come to me... This is a transcript between my friend Kate and I at work. Some of our better work indeed. While longer than your typical overheard snippit, the whole chat lasted maybe three minutes.

Kristen Weingart... grammar check...
Kate Brown/MN... ah yes - my favorite subject
Kristen Weingart... was I lying in bed last night
Kristen Weingart... or was I laying in bed last night.
Kristen Weingart... (and i was neither fibbing or getting my grove on.. simply prone.)
Kate Brown/MN... wait...I know this one - there's a trick to it
Kate Brown/MN... LMAO
Kate Brown/MN... I think people lay and objects lie, but I'm not sure
Kate Brown/MN... checking though
Kate Brown/MN... except that my computer has ground to a halt...ah, here we go
Kate Brown/MN... it appears, though I have to check one more thing, that you lie in bed
Kate Brown/MN... you lay when your action has a recipient, or object, as the grammatical term would be
Kate Brown/MN... lie down
Kate Brown/MN... lay something on the counter
Kristen Weingart... excellent.
Kristen Weingart... so i was lying in bed?
Kate Brown/MN... which makes sense when you think of it in the carnal sense...it always has an object (usually the speaker)
Kate Brown/MN... yes, it is now confirmed
Kate Brown/MN... you were lying in bed
Kate Brown/MN... if you were laying in bed, we would need to know who the object was to satisfy the grammatical requirement
Kristen Weingart... wow... there are so may double entendre options it is staggering.
Kate Brown/MN... I know - it's hard to choose just one
Kristen Weingart... well i can let this one lay...
Kristen Weingart... as for lying in bed... I never fake it.
Kristen Weingart... LOL
Kate Brown/MN... no...you'd have to let it lie
Kate Brown/MN... LOL
Kristen Weingart... wait.. isn't the object satisfied by 'double entendre'
Kate Brown/MN... it is...but for the verb "to let," not the verb "to lie"
Kristen Weingart... thanks.
Kate Brown/MN... no problem

An old friend with a new twist

Last night after our Spring pilgrimage to the Albertville outlet mall Michele, one of my best girlfriends, and I tracked down some dinner. Both in the mood for a burger we hit Grumpy's Bar and Grill where we split two of the most unique and tastiest burgers I can ever recall. Behold...

• Southern Style "The Elvis": Black Angus grilled to order and topped with peanut butter and crispy bacon. Don't judge, this one must be sampled then assessed.
• Cream Cheese Burger: Char grilled perfection topped with a healthy dollop of cream cheese laced with chives, garlic and bacon.

Don't walk; run to Grumpy's to satisfy your next hamburger hankering.