Pie Wars

Along with unemployment comes the weight gain. My Sweetheart (who is also unemployed) and I have decided to go to the gym 4 times a week which has gone great so far, as I have gained 15 pounds since I lost my job in June. What can I say, I have had more intense food cravings...I am a food addict, yes, I said it. It's either that or drink my entire wine collection (which is slowly dwindling down). So which one is better? I don't know, but at least with the extra exercise I can keep the further weight gain under control. Perhaps if I share the wealth I can refrain from eating. One of my many obsessions: Icebox pie. Here are a couple that I love and where to find them.


The first is the Lemon Icebox pie from Tom's Home Cooking in Five Points (Denver): What makes this pie so good is it is the perfect combination of tartness with a lovely sweet graham cracker crust, with whip cream not meringue.
Tom's Home Cooking
800 East 26th Avenue
Denver, CO 80205-5147
(303) 388-8035 (call each day for the menu)



The second is the absolutely evil Peanut Butter Pie from Granny Scott's Pie shop in Lakewood. I can't tell you how they make such a rich tasting pie with such a light consistency but, holy cow, it is awesome! It is a really good thing that this place is not close by me because I would be HUGE. Try it with a sandwich or soup special where everything comes with a slice of pie!
3333 South Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80227-5118
(303) 986-6240 www.grannyscottspieshop.com

Unemployment is Good for Your Budget

OK I know it is nearly Mid-March and I haven't written in a while. I apologize but here is a thought I recently had that is kind of funny: Unemployment is good for your budget. What do I mean by this? Suddenly you have no money coming in other than your unemployment benefits, you don't think you need anything. The truth is you still need things. You need medicine, you need clothing, you need cosmetics. You put your credit cards away and you don't use them...this is interesting to me because the justifications you had for getting them, "I will just use them for emergencies", no longer exist. The truth is that I was using them all the time for really stupid things when I was working. I always thought I could pay them off eventually. It didn't occur to me that I would be unemployed, I was in complete denial. After all of these months I have begun to realize what I was doing, I was living beyond my means. Yes, I know "DUH" but until now I just didn't get it. I am saving money and putting it aside now, which is something I didn't do before. I have also started thinking about doing things differently with my money once I am working again. I used to think I couldn't do it but as it turns out I can...go figure. It took my world falling apart to get me to realize it. Perhaps this was the lesson the universe was trying to teach me all along.

Job Dilemma

Recently I had an opportunity to apply for a job that I had a decent shot at getting, but I was unsure about whether it was a good idea. It was for a receptionist at an acquaintance's business, a business that I patronize. I really wasn't sure if I was the right fit for the job, so I was very conflicted. What if it didn't work out and it damaged the relationship I have with this person and this business (it is a veterinary clinic)? I have been looking for work for six months and maybe it's stupid to not go for it...in the current job market is it a bad thing to blow off a potential job opportunity just because things are complicated? I have a feeling that this question will start coming up more and more in the future.

Let's Hope that 2010 is Better than 2009!

As the new year arrives I realize that I have been out of work for 6 months. Its amazing that when you are a kid you wish that time would move faster. Now as an adult I wish that time would slow down. All of these things I wanted to get done before the new year but no such luck.
May my motivation return, and may that perfect job come my way!

Shop for the holidays, Support the Denver Women's Chorus

On Sunday, December 6th, Shop at any Barnes & Noble Nationwide and raise funds for The Denver Women's Chorus. All that's needed is a voucher...E-mail me for this voucher and more details. Happy Holidays!

More Chicken and Special Potatoes

This year for Thanksgiving, my sweetie wanted to make a turkey using the "Spatchcocked" method. Do I know what that means? Well, sort of. It has something to do with the way it is cut open, or something. Since the last thing you want on Thanksgiving is a disaster, a practice run was made on a chicken, and here is a picture of a "spatchcocked" chicken.



Inspired by my trip to Paris last spring my sweetie decided to bake it with potatoes on the bottom so that the juices from the chicken would marinate them as they cooked so they are soaked in chicken juices. See what it looked like:



Holy cow. it was just like in Paris....so delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Yummy Chicken

This is a plate of Thai Chicken with sticky rice and lettuce. My sweet heart made it but I helped flip it on the grill. It is the best chicken in the world. Yummy!!