What would you choose?

I am invited to a special breakfast at work for service awards. I am getting my 5 year. I get to choose one of the following- Engraved glass mug, acrylic paper weight, letter opener, gold plated business card case,pen with walnut case, or logo key chain.

I'm leaning towards the mug. I wonder if I can have it engraved with "best employee ever"
What would you choose?
-Rachel

What have I been up to?

Last night I went with a friend to see Les Miserables at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. It was really, really good. If you live in the San Diego area, you should check it out. One cool thing about the show is that hubs and I saw one of Victor Hugo's homes while in Paris. So, that was a cool tie in (picture is below).

Sunday's shower was for the same friend and it went really well. I made raspberry filled scones, spiked punch, and alcohol free sparkling raspberry lemonade. I also organized the games which turned out super cute, if I do say so myself. My two friends who co-hosted oversaw the remaining cooking/baking (mini frittata, mini cheesecakes, salad and cake) and coordinated the decorations. We also had some amazing roasted potatoes that looked as good as they tasted. Everyone seemed to have fun, especially the bride, which I think is the most important part. Plus, she got some awesome loot.

This weekend I am heading to San Francisco for the bachelorette party for the same friend. She actually introduced me to hubs and pretty much all the friends I made in SD, (except my knottie/nestie/foodblog buddies). Anyway, I am really looking forward to the weekend and celebrating her upcoming nuptials.

I've been promising some Europe wrap ups and I have several really good stories to share. I promise I'll get to them soon.

And to my TWD buddies, you'll want to know what happened when I visited one of Dorie's inspirations.

TWD: Grab & Grub.

This week's TWD recipe was granola grabbers chosen by Bad Girl Baking. You can find the recipe on page 82 of Baking. I'm keeping this short and sweet. The cookies were SUPER yum. I substituted craisins for raisins and I will most def make these again. I have no pictures but trust me - mine looked EXACTLY like the ones Dorie made. (You believe me, right?)

Please head over to Tuesdays with Dorie and show my fellow bakers some love.

Thanks!

PS It is almost my turn to pick. What will I choose??

Impressive

OK, so I am seriously impressed by this lady. I wish I could be more like her. However, I would have to draw the line at the toilet paper.

Help with drinks

Help please. Anyone have a good and easy recipe for bridal shower punch that doesn't involve sherbet? I found several online but would love a personal recommendation so I don't make disgustingness by mistake. I need to serve 20 people. Thanks!

If you will it...

All morning, I have been thinking about eating cheese. Then I went to drop off something to another department and the had a cheese tray! AND they offered me some!

Man I think Oprah's "Secret" lady was right. If you will it, it will come.

Yay cheese!
-Rachel

TWD - Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

Such a deliciously simple dessert deserves a deliciously simple write up. I give you:

Blueberry Ice Cream Haikus

Tuesday's recipe
has come to call. Thankfully,
it 's easy peasy.

Who can resist the
tasty freshly sweet burst of
delicious berries?

Sweet, yet tart. Creamy.

Tiny berry bits throughout.

Another scoop, please!

Thanks to Dolores of Chronicles in Culinary Curiosity for this week's selection. Hop on over to Tuesdays with Dorie and show the other members some love!

My addiction to kitchen gadgets is getting ridic.

I really want this.

Do I have room for it? Nope.

Will I use it often? Probably not.

Do I still want it? Yes!

It would go so great with this week's TWD recipe. Delish!

I suppose I should just buy some store bought waffle cones and let it be.

 

A terrible airport experience turned amazing.

After being stuck for a zillion hours at JFK, hubs spotted this celeb and alerted me. I approached with camera. A very dorky exchange took place and the celeb's "smoking hot blond girlfriend" - hub's(accurate) description - took the picture. I figured that even if I was the dorkiest ever, I'd never see them again so I went for it. UM, except they were on our flight, standing next to us at baggage, the GF and I washed hands next to each other in the LAX toilet, etc. I was so embarrassed.



I've had a crush on Luke Wilson since 1997. In my day-dreams, our meeting never occurred at an airport when I had gone 24 hours since showering and brushing my teeth! But, I got the pic and well it was the best 7.5 hour layover ever! Thanks to Luke and his lady friend for being so cool.

CUPCAKE HERO: August

Laurie over at Quirky [Cupcake] is taking a well-deserved vacation from Cupcake Hero for a couple of months. What does that mean? It means that Teri of The 90/10 Rule & I are co-hosting Cupcake Hero for August. Hurray!

Teri and I must have the same cupcake loving brain as we started to discuss our theme ingredient, we BOTH thought of the same thing at the same time. Whoa! August's theme ingredient is:



That's right, people. The Cupcake Hero theme for August is jalapeños! What a better way to say goodbye to the sweet heat of summer with a some sweet heat of our own. :)

How in the name of baking will you incorporate jalapeños in a cupcake? That's exactly what we want to know & we can't wait to see the fiery-sweet goodness you bake up. So here's the deal--

*You must incorporate jalapeños in your entry.
*You may use jalapeños in any form.
*Sweet cupcakes only, no savory. (sorry, Bacon-Cheddar-Jalapeño-Salsa-Cornbread variations)

Email your entries to both of us by August 31 before midnight EST.

Teri -> ninet10 at gmail dot com
Rachel is --> inluv4life at gmail dot com

Please include ALL of the following:

1. Name
2. Link to your Cupcake Hero entry
3. Picture of your jalapeño cupcake creation (250px by 250px is preferred) and/or permission to use the image from your blog.

If you have questions, send an email or leave a comment.

Good luck!

Sorry this post is late! For some reason the drafts I set to automatically post while on vacay didn't happen and are not saved any longer. Ugh. Thanks to Teri and Laurie for being quick on the draw!