Monday, March 22, 2010

the real deal

inside this perfectly blue goodie bag, inside this little personalized package of happiness lies a heaping batch of the now infamous, delightfully delicious chocolate-caramel-oatmeal-peanut butter bars.


the coworker came back home with a big box of these in tow, each one personalized for its adoring fan.
what a perfect little gift.
they were even better than Iremembered. and savoring each crumbly, chewy bite, I took mental notes. I wanted to know precisely where my knockoffs went wrong and how I could perfect them.
funny enough, I wasn't too far off.

but these were crispier. the dough layers are studded with chopped almonds and oats. there is a subtle hint of peanut butter that happily melds into the nooks and crannies, sits there and delightfully gets along with every other flavor.
the center layer is an ooey-gooey river of caramel. perfectly constructed caramel that doesn't get hard or taste burned. it remains soft, gooey, sticky-sweet and divine.
the chocolate chips nestle right in. fabulous little surprises.
I savored each bite. I made sure to make them last as long as possible.
these are such a delight and such a complete treat when ever I do have them.

and when you come across something like that, you are one lucky gal.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

hear ye!

ladies and gentlemen, behold my very first turkey leg!


almost as big as my head, no??
and delicious!
it was smoky and crispy and moist and juicy and perfectly seasoned.
and so of course, while I was frolicking around the Renaissance Festival, I just could not pass up the deep fried oreos.

Oh yes, I went there.
Deep fried.
And dusted with a mass of powdered sugar. Perfect little pillows nestled right in my paper basket.
The chocolate melts inside and you're left with a crispy, doughy bite and an ooey-gooey chocolatey center. It doesn't ooze out chocolate, it's just a warm chocolate center surrounded by this fluffy outer layer of dough.
It's fabulous.
It's so wrong, it's right.
Here's the problem with fairs and festivals: I wish I could somehow own a second stomach that I could use only in these kinds of instances where the food surrounding me tempts me and calls my name and I want nothing more than to scarf it all down.
Like the kettle corn, with its nutty, sweet scent wafting through the air. I get lifted and carried right to it. Or the funnel cake! Or smoked sausages. Or just everything...
Sigh.
Makes me want to plan another trip next weekend just for the food.
And perhaps, also, a wax hand.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

budding buds


can I tell you how excited i am about springtime??
and my seeds?
and the green little stems poking right through the dirt, saying "hello sunshine! I am here and I am alive!"?
I cannot wait to go outside and pick off some lettuce leaves or basil leaves or cilantro stems or carrots or leeks or whatever else I planted!
oh christmas present, I love you.