July 7, 2008

We’ve been renting a lot of movies over the past month; I had a couple of Blockbuster gift cards for 5 free movie rentals apiece, and realized a few weeks ago that they expired on June 30. To make matters even awesomer*, we could only use them for one rental per day, so Scott and I had to go to Blockbuster almost every day during the past couple weeks of June to use up all the rentals. While we were there, one specific movie cover kept catching my eye, and not because it looked good. It’s really one of the most unintentionally offputting movie covers I’ve seen in a long time. Enjoy!

I mean, it’s not gross or anything, it just seems like it runs entirely counter to the purpose of the movie. Clearly it’s a romantic comedy, but Sarah Chalke could not look more uninterested and vaguely queasy, and what’s-his-face just looks doofily oblivious but in a completely uncharming way. The tagline is pretty standard-issue dumb, so I’ll leave that alone, but overall it looks like it was cobbled together in Paint Shop Pro within the span of about ten minutes.

(And no, I didn’t rent it, so I can’t tell you how good or bad it actually is, but I’d be willing to bet money on painfully bad.)

*it’s a perfectly cromulent word.

July 5, 2008

Scott and I just got back from Aglamesis Bros. after an ice cream craving hit. I had never been there before, but I really liked it. It’s been open since 1913 and still looks charmingly old-timey (there are some good pictures here if you’re interested, though I don’t know that person), and everyone working there was very friendly. Our server informed us that there was a flavor available called Pineapple Pecan that was apparently the most popular flavor back in 1940-something. I didn’t end up getting it (my first reaction, similar to yours I’m sure, was GAAAHH), but my curiosity got the better of me before we left and I got a little container to take home. I tried a spoonful when we got back, and it’s surprisingly good. It actually reminds me of the sweet potatoes that I make on Thanksgiving with brandy, pineapple, and walnuts. That probably isn’t helping my case any, but eh. The woman waiting in line after me as we checked out informed me that sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top makes it taste like pineapple upside-down cake, so I think I may have to try that next.

Two things I forgot to mention June 6, 2008

1. I registered a new wordpress account, frugaldrunk. Scott and I are going to start posting there when we come across cheap wine and beer that we like (so, Colt 45 and Wild Irish Rose don’t count). I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to set it up so that multiple accounts can post to it, so everyone can participate, but I haven’t been able to figure it out yet. If anyone knows, please send help.

EDIT: I think I got it. Does anyone want to be added?

2. I got this shirt in the mail last night and am wearing it to work today. It sums me up pretty well, I think.

June 6, 2008

Yesterday was Scott’s and my 4th wedding anniversary. We just hung out at home last night, but tomorrow we’re getting a lemon torte from a nearby bakery and going to a few of those farms where you pick your own fruit (the traditional 4th anniversary gift is fruit and flowers). Going to the farms was Scott’s idea, just in case anyone out there is going OH MAN SUCKS TO BE HIM, because he’s been making jam lately. I don’t know what kinds we’re going to end up with (the first batch was strawberry rhubarb) but if anyone wants any, send me an e-mail and I’ll send you some.

Reliving the dark ages May 29, 2008

This morning on the way to work, Scott and I were trying to speculate on phone rates for calling Mongolia (I missed a call from Jay the other day). I said I would look it up online when we got to work, which led to a discussion of what we ever did before the internet was invented. I mean, I remember it, and I don’t remember life being distinctly terrible, but now that the internet is so integrated into my life I can’t help but imagine sepia-toned images of myself dressed like one of the Little Rascals, rolling a hoop down the street with a stick.

Anyway, I found the rates, but then I started thinking about our first computer, a Commodore Vic-20, and how I used to entertain myself for hours by laboriously typing in four pages of code just to make the screen flash different colors. Par-tay. I also remembered a text-based adventure game I used to play on it called Voodoo Castle, and Googled it in a fit of nostalgia. Not only did I confirm that it really existed and wasn’t just a feverish dream, but I found an online Java-based version of it. It’s… not exactly what I would call fun, but as is the style of the time, I’m obviously going to play it and ironically like it.

So, thank you, Internet. Both for allowing me to relive my childhood, and giving me something else to do when reliving my childhood gets intolerably boring.

May 19, 2008

Scott and I drove down to Atlanta last weekend for a wedding. We weren’t there for very long (drove down Saturday and back on Monday) but we had a good time. We got to see Scott’s brother and sister and went to a few good restaurants, and the wedding was really nice. We went to a farmer’s market at one point and the fish section, MY GOD. I’ve never seen a selection like that and it was all really cheap. I know it’s my own fault for only ever living in landlocked states, but I was so jealous. I meant to get boiled peanuts at some point before we left, but we didn’t see any places that had them on the way out of Georgia. I’ve made them at home before, but I’ve never had the “authentic” kind, so I wanted to compare. That, and Scott won’t eat them, so it’s a waste to make a big batch of them at a time. I had to settle for deep fried peanuts, which tasted good, but ow, my arteries. We also stopped at a roadside stand and got a bottle of peach cider, which was really good, and a jar of moonshine jelly, which… wasn’t. I think it might be good if I use it in a glaze for a pork roast or something, but I won’t be putting it on my toast.

The drive was surprisingly painless, only about 7 hours each way (we didn’t have to drive around downtown that much, fortunately), I-75 goes straight from Cincinnati to Atlanta, and the scenery in Kentucky and Tennessee was beautiful. I think we’re going to try to go down there again later this year (preferably with a huge cooler).

Dragon fruit May 5, 2008

Scott and I did some shopping over the weekend and stopped at Trader Joe’s for some groceries. While we were there, a bag of dried dragon fruit caught my eye:

(I didn’t actually take that picture, by the way, I just stole it from some other website.)

I’d never had dragon fruit before, so I went ahead and bought it (it was only $3). It’s … interesting. There’s not much in the way of flavor; it has a nice enough aftertaste but doesn’t really have a regular taste. The texture is pretty satisfying, though. It’s tougher and chewier than other dried fruit I’ve had, almost like fruit jerky. It actually kinda reminds me of the scene in The Three Amigos where they roast bats over the campfire. YUMMY.

And now I really want to watch that movie. I think I’m going to rent it tonight. It is Cinco de Mayo, after all. You son of a motherless goat.

In a surprising twist… May 2, 2008

I won the Iron Chef contest! I think everyone was freaked out by the ice cream at first, but apparently it was a big hit after people actually started trying it. I decided to make some cinnamon-chocolate syrup (with a little cayenne pepper) on a whim last night and that turned out really well, so I credit that with my success. Here’s a picture of the finished product:

I was going to garnish it with a dried chili pepper, but I couldn’t find them (although I did borrow one from one of the other contestants when I had to present it to the judges). And here is a picture of the (surprisingly good) prize I won:

A “wine and cheese” basket with 2 bottles of wine, a little cheese cutting board, knife, and corkscrew, and gift cards for Blockbuster and Red Lobster. This almost makes up for the fact that I have to go in for a meeting tomorrow morning.

Well… no it doesn’t. But still, woohoo!

¡Caliente! April 30, 2008

I made my entry for the Iron Chef contest last night: White Chocolate Ancho Chile Ice Cream. I followed the recipe (although I added an extra teaspoon of cayenne pepper) and it turned out all right, but it doesn’t taste very chocolatey. The cinnamon and cloves gave it a faint gingerbread taste, which I liked, and they worked well with the spiciness of the peppers. I think if I make it again, I’m going to use dark or milk chocolate and more cinnamon.

I bring it in on Friday, so we’ll see what happens. I don’t really think I’ll win, since I think chile-flavored ice cream is going to be too weird for people here to deal with. But hey, if nothing else, I get the personal satisfaction of making my coworkers eat something weird. And at the end of the day, that’s what really counts.

The recipe made a quart of ice cream, so I’ll try to remember to take a picture when I get home.

April 22, 2008

I signed up for an “Iron Chef” competition at work today. We only have to make one dish, and don’t have to bring it in until May 2. The ingredient I have to use is peppers (any kind, apparently) and I think I know what I’m going to make, but I figured I’d ask for some input. What are some of your favorite peppery recipes?

Bonus points if they can: a) sit at room temperature or in a fridge for a few hours, or b) be reheated in a microwave without turning gross. I guess if I have to, I can bring in an electric heating pad and keep it under the dish.