My First Crock Pot Meal

Believe it or not but I bought a crock pot.

Who knew cooking would be so easy!

I kid you not it took me like 10 minutes to put everything in the pot then I turned it on for 10 hours and left it.

I (or rather IT) made the MOST delicious pulled beef sandwiches!  Just add Cheddar!

The recipe called for a wine, balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, which after cooking, is used for dipping.

Yum!

I put a 3lb rump roast in the pot but it can hold a bigger one.  So next time I'm going to get the butcher to give me a 6lb one.

I love to freeze food - makes life so simple when you are busy!

I bought the Cuisinart 6.5 quart slow cooker.

Pretty isn't it?!

You're jealous aren't you?!

Don't worry they have more at the store - or Amazon!

Tastee, Tastee, Tastee!

My next cooking attempt is going to be pecan chicken.

I get to beat it with a mallet!

Hopefully I'll remember to take photos!

Food Crack

Yes I said Food CRACK!

We went to a restaurant the other day, one friends had taken my husband to when he was here in Houston on business.

It's called Lola.


http://www.eatlola.com/

I had a beef and cheddar sandwich.  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.  

No lie.

The beef was delicious - no gristle at all.

And the bun.  The Bun.

It was so good it deserves to be capitalized.

It was a yeast bun that was lightly toasted on the inside.

It makes me shiver just to think about it.

And oh did I mention the Butter?

It goes without saying that Butter should ALWAYS be capitalized.  

I think they brushed The Bun with Butter.

I'm sure they brushed The Bun with Butter.

If it's not Butter on that Bun then I don't want to know.

If it tastes that good it MUST be Butter.

Of course I finished it off before I thought to take a photo.

But I took one of my husband when we were waiting for take out a few days later.

Because I couldn't stop thinking about my Food Crack.

I'm Waiting....

For the movers to get here and finish packing me up.

For the spa to open so I change my appointment because the movers are not finished.

For my neighbor to wake up so I can go and chat while I'm waiting for the movers.

I can't believe I had to get up so early - 5:30 AM.

I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow.

I only have 5 more days left in this country!

I'm wondering if I should create a new blog for the US or just rename this blog.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

In other news - I did NOT eat that doughnut at Starbucks this morning.

THAT took some major will power.

I'm just sayin'.

Feelin' Groovy...

I'm getting ready to go out.

With my Dubai friends...

To have tea at the Ritz.

I was thinking...wouldn't a whiskey be nice...?

So I had one.

So now I'm feelin good

I'm feelin groovy

And I'm off (in a Taxi) to have high tea, or the Dubai equivalent.

There is a bar at the Ritz...

Maybe instead of tea, I'll have "Tea".

In Whiskey form.

Hmmmm, I wonder what single malts they have.

It is the Ritz.

I have high expectations.

Pizzeria Uno

Yeah I know.

And no, today I can't think of anything better to blog about.

I think I have bloggers block.

Last night I went and had pizza with friends.

As you know, I don't usually agree to go out for pizza, I pretty much don't like pizza.

But this pizza...this pizza is GOOD.

http://uno.know-where.com/pizzeria/cgi/index?mapid=intl&design=default&lang=en

I'm certain they make the crust with BUTTER!

It's just sooo YUMMY!

And as you know - I cannot resist baked goods with butter!

And the chain is American.

Ahhhhhhh.....America!

I'm back....

And I started my diet yesterday.

So far so good - but it has only been 2 days...

Being in the good old US of A was not kind to my waistline.

I just couldn't help myself - Brisket, Cupcakes, TexMex, drinks and eats with the peeps.

How could I say no?!

When I go to the US it's the only vacation where I gain weight - anywhere else, Europe, Asia etc... I never gain a pound.

But send me to America - I can't help myself - I chomp down all the foods I miss.

And I chomp them down multiple times.

Yum, yum, yum.

What can you do?

I made Quiche

And it is taaaasteeeee!

I had to make the crust for the Quiche from scratch because you can't buy frozen crusts here.

I'm getting pretty good at making crust from scratch if I do say so myself.

Of course I don't make the one from shortening - I make the one with BUTTER!

It's nice and flakey, and buttery and oh so good!

Necessity is the mother of invention - I'd never even attempt to make crust from scratch if I lived in the US.  I'd just pop by the Kroger and buy it.

I stuffed the Quiche with spinach, peas, and sausage (the pig sausage from the porn pork room, the naughty pork room!).  So I'm getting green veggies, protein and the butter and cream have calcium, which every woman needs. 

Spinach Quiche has about 350 calories per slice and I figure since I added sausage it's most likely about 400 - 450 per slice.  More on the 450 side because, well...Butter!

Anyway I was a cooking machine this weekend.  I made the Quiche, Mexican surprise, and an egg and sausage dish.  I've frozen it all and will have it as breakfast / dinner all week.

I have to say - cooking while having a vodka is quite fun!

In other news (don't I sound just like a newscaster?!)...

We're leaving in 2 weeks for AMERICA! 

You can't see me, but I'm doing a little dance!

Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, My Corona!

Sing that to the tune of my Sharona!

I had a burger and a Corona last night...and it was very tastee!

I know I should feel ashamed - but that's not this blog, that's this blog! 

This blog is the one where I can wallow in my hedonistic ways, that blog I get to berrate myself over my hedonistic ways.

Cause while I do feel a bit bad about the fact that my ass is as wide as a house, I really, really enjoyed those Corona's. And the burger. Oh, and the fries.

Git in my BELLY!

But then it goes to my ASS!

But it was good, and it was worth it!

Smack that ASS and give me another burger!

Food, How 'bout Some Food...

Can you feed me, cause I'm hungry.

Food.

Give me some food.

I want some ice cream, cup cakes too.

Food.

I want some food.

Food.

Give me some food.

Food. Glorious food.

Food.

Ahhh my hubby just cooked some vodka pasta.

From Emeril Lagasse's cookbook.

And it was taaassssttteee.

Very tastee.

And we had a very good time cooking together.

Of course, he did most of the cooking.

But I cleaned.

And I ate, oh boy did I eat.

Did I mention it was tastee?!

Food. How bout some food!

Dieting Sucks!

Can I just say that trying to eat "right" is a pain in the butt.

I would really like to have a cup cake right now.

I have all the ingredients to make them at home.

Even the icing.  Cream cheese icing.

My body likes the moratorium I've placed on sweets.  I don't feel as lethargic and my stomach doesn't bother me either.

By my mind, my crazy mind is DYING to have sweets.

Cookies, cakes and candy.

Oh my...

Yummy!

We went to Ruth Chris last night and it was soooo very good!

http://www.ruthschris.com/Steak-House/111126/Dubai

The steak was incredible.

Ahhh foood.

We also met the manager's of the restaurant - one from Austin the other was from New Orleans.

New Orleans is to food what Italy is to Coffee.

When we move home one of the first trips we're taking is going to be to New Orlelans.

Port of Call....

http://portofcallnola.com/

Yum.

Brunch at Brennan's

http://www.brennansneworleans.com/

Yum.

Shrimp Etouffee.

Double Yum.

They started a ladies night at Ruth Chris - oh yeah baby!

I can't wait to go!

Now we're off for Coffee and Croissant at The. French. Bakery.

How could life get any better than this?!

Hmmm...I could be doing all this in America...

The French

I'm not a big fan of French food - but I have to say their baked goods are very, very good.

A French bakery just opened up near us and we checked it out the day before yesterday.

It's owned by a real French Pastry Chef.

Who uses butter.

Real butter.

Butter.

And you all know - everything tastes better with butter.

I had an almond croissant.

And I swear to you that it tasted like it had been soaked in butter then flash fried.

In butter.

Then as an after thought they sprinkled a few almond slivers and threw some powdered sugar on top.

Can I just say it was soooo good that I'm salivating for one right now just telling you about it.

Who knew a croissant could taste so good.

Their Coffee wasn't half bad either - I'm thinking of holding weekend services there.

Still don't have a name for my Coffee based religion...

The only thing that could have made the cafe better was if they had an Italian making the Coffee.

A French Pastry Chef and an Italian Barista.

That my friends is my idea of heaven.