Odds and Ends and A Lemongingeraid

by Caitlin

Hi friends. I've got a few odds and ends for you today.

First, thanks so much for your great comments on my last couple of posts. It was fun to hear about your own camping/tubing snacks and traditions. I also love reading the comments on my post about my grandmother. I don't always know where those posts come from, but they tend to hit me out of the blue. I also don't know why Gram specifically seems to inspire so many food memories, but my guess is that it's exactly because we've always had a special relationship, she's still around, still her same old self, and yet she's aging, and sometimes that's really hard. It makes me nostalgic. It somehow helps to share the nostalgia.

On that note, I always appreciate your comments here. I'm not always great about responding to them, but I read every single one and always appreciate when someone takes the time to stop and write something in response to what I've written. I love having that interaction with you, so thank you for that.

Second, Zach and I have gone on our big trip to Napa and San Francisco and we ate and drank so many wonderful things I hardly know where to start to tell you about it. I will, though, for the highlights at least. But it's not going to be today. Which brings me to my next point.

Third, you may remember how I've had some chronic sinus problems going on. Well, I had surgery for it. Yesterday. (It's Wednesday as I write this.) (This post brought to you by post-op pain meds YAYYY!) Thus, I don't have a lot of substance to offer you, but I will tell you a couple of things I've been enjoying lately. And since I'm going to be laid up in bed for a few days, would you do me a kind favor and do the same? Tell me what you're enjoying lately. Or even what you're looking forward to enjoying over the summer. Or something you once enjoyed or possibly might enjoy sometime. You know, that sort of thing. Or just your favorite color. Like that.

1.) So, one of my current challenges is hydration. I normally drink a ton of water but for some reason I can't seem to get enough post-op. I CAN tell you that ice water has never tasted so good, but I'm also looking for something with flavor to keep it interesting. Today I combined peach lemonade with Gosling's Ginger beer and it was GLORIOUS. Longtime readers may recall that I am a huge fan of ginger. Gosling's makes the best Ginger Beer, in my opinion, and I highly recommend it for a very fresh, spicy ginger flavor. It's made with high-fructose corn syrup, which I'm not crazy about but meh. Sometimes I'm just feeling absolutely WILD, you know? Just so completely WILD. #cornsyrup

 

Photo from scojuice.com

This is the lemonade I used. It is pretty delicious. Wait until Whole Foods has it on sale for $1 per bottle and stock up.

When making this drink I got to use my favorite Keep It Fizzy trick which made me feel slightly giddy. I could blame that on the vicodin but that would be disingenuous.

2) Talenti Gelato.

Photo from southfloridagourmet.com

Specifically, Sea Salt Caramel gelato by Talenti Gelato. It's made of unicorn tears. And also tiny chocolate-caramel cups which I was not expecting and which I thought would ruin the plain old sea salt caramel I was looking for but now I don't know how I can live without them. The only thing that upsets me about this gelato is that it was on sale at the store and I didn't buy more. You should go buy some right now.

So, that's it. That's all I got. What's new with you, friends? Entertain me while I'm laid up in bed? Please? Your hair sure looks nice today.

Comments

[Ashley M.]

I'm super excited about the Girl's Night dinner I'm making out at our lake house this weekend! We're doing a shrimp boil (otherwise known as a LowCountry Boil), with fresh crusty bread, lots of wine and then that thing that's been floating around pinterest that's cookie dough on the bottom, then oreos in the middle then brownies on top. YUM! Hope you're feeling better soon!!

[Em]

Hi. My favorite color is blue.
I LOVE that gelato. I tried the Caramel Cookie Crunch and fell in love. The next time that flavor was sold out so I got the Sea Salt and Caramel. Agian, LOVE. I just looked at their website and they have a lot more flavors that my grocery store doesn't carry.

[Emily B]

I made those pinterest brownie things that Ashley mentioned. I found recipes for two versions. One is blonde brownie(http://whatsgabycooking.com/slutty-blondies/) with cookie dough on the bottom - and no choc. chips, golden oreos in the middle and then blonde brownie as the top. I goofed (failed to read the entire recipe through before starting) and did a chocolate chip cookie dough on the bottom. But it was truly amazing. I don't care for the name though - Slutty Brownies. Gotta find something nicer don't ya think? For something so utterly delish it deserves better. Hope you're feeling better!!

[Jen L.]

Sorry you're slung out in the bed. I made a new icing recipe today (you can read about it here! tomorrow! huzzah!). We visited my in-laws for three weeks and ate almost nothing but pork. This was not necessarily a good thing. I'm trying to think of a diplomatic way to blog about it. Help if you can. (And feel better!)