Likely Story

Omnivore's One Hundred

Ok, I know, its a meme (of which I am not traditionally a fan) but this one I found interesting.  If you have questions about the list itself (and yes, I know it is decidedly anglo-centric), go here for answers.

Here’s the rules:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten. (The ones I really, really love are also in RED)
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk (the origin of the meme) linking to your results.

The Likely Story's Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (does Alligator count?)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses (sadly, I have not tried this yet)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (there is nothing better than raw, cold water oysters)
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda (someday...)
31. Wasabi Peas (way, way over-rated)
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut (warm, with caraway seeds)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (sorry, I'm probably too chicken)
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel (good god, I loooooove broiled eel)
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut (even more over-rated than #31)
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (all four please)
68. Haggis (vegetarian and original)
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse (I'm about 90% sure it was horse)
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa (just harissa, not with rose petals)
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox (and capers, please)
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

What have you eaten?

Best. Cookie. Ever. and other assorted brilliance.

I present the best Oatmeal, Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookie.
They are crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle.  The cranberries present a lovely tang when balanced against the dark chocolate and the brown sugar dough.  Not too many chips or craisins and the oats aren't all up in your grill, either.  They are in a word, perfection.  Don't you want some?  You do?  Okay, here's the recipe:

Oat Chocolate Chip Craisin Cookies by me.

2 sticks butter
1 c. dark brown sugar
1/2 c. castor sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp good vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. rolled oats
1 - 1 1/2 c. chopped dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips
3/4 c. craisins (dried, sweetened cranberries)

ovens at 350 f    please.
 cream butter and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix until just combined.
In theory, you should sift the dry, but I never do.  Mix in flour, salt and soda until a good dough forms.  Fold in oats, chips and craisins.

Bake 15-18 minutes, depending on your oven.  They tend to burn quickly, so watch the first tray or two.  Cool on a rack and eat!

But what to store these little treats in?  Oh, I know!!  An awesome cookie jar that I smuggled back from the UK in my suitcase. How could a cookie jar be awesome you may ask? Because its a retro, ceramic (not that cheap, plastic crap you see making the rounds), Dr. Who TARDIS cookie jar - hell yeah! And it was only a tenner!   Bask in it's glory, internets!

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Thank you for being so patient.  I know, you were all waiting with baited breath thinking, "What in the heavens is that mad woman up to these days?  Its been ages since she has polluted teh internetz with her exploits and wisdom!  Has she forgotten us, her loyal readers?"  No, Mom and Dad, I haven't. 

I have however been slammin' busy with random projects.  I have one book in pre-press and I have just finished laying out another (ed. note:  for those people not related to me, I design/edit books and stuff).  I have the potential for a few website consultations which, time permitting, will spiral into full site builds (time, incidentally, will most likely not permit).  I am officially behind in writing book reviews for two titles now.  It looks like I am unofficially catering my friend's gallery opening next weekend.  I am frantically knitting/sewing  holiday presents (which means my SKC knitting is on hold).  Also, in class, this Saturday, I am building and decorating a 4 tier wedding cake. 

But finally, and I think we all know, most importantly, I have discovered an Apple IIgs emulator for my laptop.  Oh sweet Jesus YES!!!  Today I have just beaten (with the aid of a walkthrough, yes...) TASS TIMES IN TONE TOWN.  And it's only taken me, what, 21-22 years?  Thank Christ!  That has been bugging me.  That game was the bane of my existence (when I was 9).  My cousin can attest to this.  She used to spend summers with us and she, too, rotted away her brain one summer pounding her skull against the hefty weight of the IIgs running Tass Times.  But now, who's the loser, Tass Times?  Huh?  I win, TTiTT.  You lose.  All I have to say is this:  Suck it Tass Times, there is nothing sad about my wrath. 

Ooooh.  That felt good.

Dream Zone - You're next!

On that note, here is a grainy picture of a giraffe cake.  Bon Appetit!

Back From SAFF

I am back from a wonderful and exhausting weekend in Asheville, NC at the South Eastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF for short).  It was great.  I bought beautiful yarn and got to see Rachael who I hadn't seen in four (yes, FOUR) years.  Good Stuff!  Here's what the place looked like:

Here is a shot of our combined yarn haul (at least half from Brooks Farm):

Here are a Lama and two angora bunnies:

We ate at the BEST restaurant, Rezaz.  Seriously, when in Asheville, eat there.  So good.  really.  wow.
Good Food, Farm animals, Good Friends - much fun was had by all!

This Weekend

No Saturday torte this week.  In fact, no more posts until next week,  Why you may ask?  B/c I leave the day after tomorrow for SAFF!!!  YAY!  I am meeting my friend Rachael and we're going to have a yarn good time (sorry for that awful pun).  Lots of pictures to follow.

See you all at SAFF!

Not Again!

Aw Jesus!  Now I've got to get this!  Just when I thought I had FINALLY read them all.  Damn you Christopher and Adam Tolkein.

Thanks, Rachael for the heads up!

And yes, i did just pre-order the super deluxe geektastic version, thank you very much.

sigh.