Rant: Wingstop’s “tiny” problem

So I’m pregnant with our second…and craving Buffalo wings. I’ve always loved Wingstop in the past…luscious, plump drumettes…finger-licking wings. The original sauce was just spicy enough for this pregnant Momma. (their fries weren’t bad, as well)

We ordered some.

Boy, were we disappointed.
These were the puniest, most annorexic chicken wings I’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing…the whole lot of them.
I was so disappointed, I even took a picture of it. (I placed a quarter next to it so you can visually see how small…go ahead: take out a quarter and imagine how disappointingly small these were!) And I didn’t just pick out the smallest. The anomaly in both boxes were the two lonely “normal” sized wings amongst the pygmy wings.

It’s really too bad. I really did like their food…one of the few ‘fast food’ places I actually liked.
I plan on writing Wingstop. I hope they see the errors of their way and go back to their roots.

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My Guilty Pleasure: Cupcakes

Yes, I know…they are very trendy now…and have been for a year or two. But I LOVE cupcakes. I always have. There’s something…sweet, nostalgic, satisfying…poetic about that little bit of goodness. For some people, it’s just the perfect amount…not too little, not too much. For others, finishing one leaves you wanting just one more bite.

<sigh>

I haven’t found a good place here in town. <sniff>

We did find a place in NYC. Billy’s. I’ll have to find my sister’s picture of the cupcake I had. It wasn’t a fancy design…but it BEGGED to be eaten.

So if I can’t eat them, I might as well read about them:

Cupcake sites or blogs to get you started:

Cupcakes Take the Cake (This site has a nice list of stores and links.)

Cupcake by Chockylit (unfortunately, she stopped blogging)

52 Cupcakes

Some cakes by ‘real’ people:

Cakes by Ashley (not cupcakes…but still fun to look at)

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“No one cooks like Mom.”

Traditionally, if your mother was the one to do the majority of the cooking in your house growing up, then the title statement means something to you. I’m sure even English men and women say the same thing…despite what the world may think of English food.

My honey, B, has always told me that his mom is the best cook ever. As much as I like to think I can cook pretty well, I will never try to compete with her. Why? Because it’s not a battle I can ever win. Even if I win the Pillsbury Bake-Off…or the Texas State Fair blue ribbon…or whatever. HIS MOTHER will always be the best.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t try to make things for him that he talks about…”When I was growing up, my mom use to make….”

For example, today, for some reason I decided to make Scrapple. (And no, it’s not the wrong way to say the tea/fruit drink you see advertised.) I had to have them explain to me what that was. My MIL is originally from up North. Grew up in Pennsylvania where Scrapple is a staple. Basically, cornmeal mush (like Polenta) with whatever ‘scrap’ of pork product you had on hand. I love the frugality of the Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsche)! One site said that they used every part of the pig except the squeal.

Anyway, after I did some researching, I got how to make this from “Mix whatever pork stuff you had leftover from dinner/breakfast.” to “Go to the slaughter house. Ask for the head, feet, tongue, brain, etc. and boil them.” Needless to say, I did not take the later suggestion. I did, however, stay with the principal of use whatever you have in the house. If it’s not in the fridge or the pantry, it doesn’t need it.

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Tony Bourdain at his snarky best

I’m actually putting this in here today to have a link. But if you want snark, he’s a master at it!

He writes about his opinion on the ‘stars’ of Food Network. I hate meanness…but it’s like a car accident you can look away from. And he’s over the top…so you take everything he says with a grain of salt. “There goes Tony again.” *shaking head*

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A rose by any other name…

You know, smells are very subjective. There are things that pretty much everybody agrees smells good. Like fresh baked cookies or bread. Some are not as crystal clear. I had a friend who LOVED the smell of fresh cut grass. I absolutely abhor that stench. It would actually cause a gag reflex when it was too strong…hence me paying someone to mow my yard when I was single.

I know this is going to sound strange, but I like the smell of light chlorine. It reminds me of summer. Can you tell I’m a city girl? All the pools around here had to be chlorinated…so summers…chlorine! (and coconut smells…and Johnson & Johnson baby oil for those of us who were hard-core sun worshipers)

I also love the smell of fresh clean earth/dirt after a cleansing rainstorm. And the smell of a baby. Or my honey straight out of the shower before cologne. Patchouli…which is not very easy to find in candle scene, btw. Makes me sound like a very earthy kinda girl, doesn’t it? <shrug> (Don’t you sometimes wonder how your olfactory senses were wired the way they are?)

But there’s a group of smells that by changing the situation can smell either really good…or really bad. For example, cheese. And I’m talking about the most ripe, pungent kinds. You blindfold someone, and

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Is it cool…or just weird?

My right brain appreciates the randomness of this…it is kinda cool. But my librarian side begs to ask, “Why?!”

You have to click on the pictures to get the full effect:

I love to keep my cereal somewhat crunchy…as much as the next person. I’m always looking for a great way to keep it crunchy and my milk cold. I have yet to find the ‘perfect’ method. This…again…hm.

Eat Me Crunchy Milk Bowl

Oh! And I accidentally found a CEREAL RESTAURANT. Go figure!

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Krispy Kreme in Japan

My friend in Japan sent this picture to me. This is one of two Krispy Kremes in all of Japan. The sign is at the end of the line letting those considering buying how long it will take.

Um…I don’t think I’d wait in line for over an hour for DONUTS.

Although, I DO love a ‘off the conveyor belt’ donut they hand you when you walk in. I wonder if they do that in Japan? Give you a freebie? I digress…but sometimes, all I really want is ONE donut. But since they just gave it to you, how can you walk out? “Oh, nothing for me. That one just hit the spot!” That just seems so…tacky. I’ve heard of parents who will drive up with a car load of kids…have the kids run in, grab one, and go home. How tacky is that?!

But back on topic…uh, where was I? Dunno.

Oh well.

Mmmmmmmm.
Donuts. <drool>

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Travelogue: NYC Oct. ’07

I am finally getting to our quick long weekend trip to one of our favorite cities: New York City. B has Columbus day off, and so did I. Even though it was going to be a very short trip there and back, a little NYC is better than no NYC at all.

I’ve been going there at least 2 times a year for almost a decade. Now I just go to ‘hang’ out at my sister’s apartment and walk around…more than seeing all the sites. B is still a ‘tourist’. But we both agreed this was too short of a trip to really plan tourist stops. SO…I suggested an epicurean’s foray.

What’s a ‘epicurean’s foray’? Well, it’s planning a trip around a list of things you want to eat. Of course we had our ‘usuals’: Gray’s Papaya’s (we did try other places…like The Papaya King…but nope, Gray’s is better!) and eating at the Chelsea Market Place (always a good choice…fresh stuff…home of the Food Network…FRESH fish!)

This time we wanted to try different stuff we saw mentioned on TV or places my sisters been wanting to try…or share with us:

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My Pet Peeves

There are things that one person doesn’t even notice…but bother the heck out of another. Here are a few that make me want to grit my teeth.

1. When different food groups touch on my plate. I HATE that! For example, if I have fruit salad on my plate but also have meat, I hate the taste of meat when I eat my fruit. Yuck! If I can’t use two plates to keep them segregated, I will use a piece of bread to act as a barrier and soak up inappropriate juices.
2. Mean people. Mean people SUCK!
3. I can’t stand it when I open a bottle or box of something when I haven’t finished the previous box. Drives me nuts to have two items opened up of the same thing!
4. Misuse-nay, the OVERuse of the “I”. It probably started all innocently enough. Teachers correcting students, “Oh, Johnny. That’s “Molly and I will get the gift.” But now people over-correct themselves. Even seemingly intelligent people will do this! I’ve heard teachers say, for example, “The report was given to John and I.”

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These are a few of my favorite things….

There are certain things that make me happy…inexplicably happy. I’m not talking about big, costly things. I am talking about those small things…or moments that make you sudden say, “Aaaawwww!” or “Aahhhhhh!”

 

1. Driving on a newly paved road…smooth!
2. When you wake up in the morning and realize you had the yummiest sleep ever and feeling totally refreshed.
3. Eat a delicious meal and you have to dance in your seat…or make yum-yum noises…without meaning to.
4. When my puppy plops himself right next to me, hangs his head on my thigh, & looks up at me with his puppy-dog eyes.
5. When B does the housework without me asking him.
6. Right after a rainstorm…the smell of clean earth. Actually, the smell of clean dirt when I am gardening. I like good dirt!
7. A nice evening in with a group of friends and good food…and great conversation.
8. A funny thought…something that strikes your funny bone and you laugh and laugh and laugh. The next day your stomach hurts.
9. The slow smile of a solemn child. Most kids smile a lot. With a few, you feel blessed with he shines that smile towards you. It just seems to suddenly brighten his/her face…and my day. Of course a tight hug from any child is great.
10. Finding a pair of jeans/pants that make your butt look great.

What makes you smile?

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