Look people.. its over.

Regarding what this blog really is, and a recipe to make up for your loss.

I'm sorry I have ruthlessly deserted you, dear blog, and know that
though it probably WILL happen again, I will do my best to make this
humble blog a place to divulge my behind-the-scenes-self to the internet,
and those who choose to read it. I hope I may benefit someone in some
way.

For today, I contribute a delightful recipe which I found utterly wonderful,
and could be a great addition for a July 4rth picnic. Please excuse my messy
house - I had not the time to clean it. Sorry.

Blueberry Lemon Bars - A recipe from the paper

For the crust:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 c. flour

For the filling:
1/2 c. granulated sugar
3 tbsp. flour
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/8 tsp. salt
3 eggs
2 c. fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries


























When juicing and zesting the lemon, what worked for
me was to juice first, by cutting the lemon in half and
then pummeling the poor thing till it was only a haggard
remnant of its previous juicy self. After finishing giving
its other half similar treatment, you should have about
2-3 tbsp. of juice.

















To zest, I used a cheese grater - it took a long time though, and
I'm sure there is a better way. By the end of the tedious process,
I'd say I had about little more than a tbsp of zest.


Now. Finally starting the recipe... We'll start with the crust.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Coat a 8 or 9 inch square pan/baking dish with cooking spray.
In a 'medium' bowl (this is just what the recipe says...) use an electric mixer on low
( far left)
to beat together the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Looks a bit like marshmallows in there...

Then add the 2 cups of flour (left) and beat just until the mixture forms small crumbs.










Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Set the remaining mixture aside. Be careful not to use more than two-thirds!





Bake the prepared baking dish for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Then reduce the oven temp. to 350 degrees.











While your bars are cooking, prepare the filling. In another medium bowl, mix the granulated sugar (this is regular, sugar, by the way), 3 tbsp. flour, lemon zest and salt. Add the eggs and lemon juice, and then mix/whisk until smooth.

When your bars come out, spread the 2 cups of blueberries in an even layer over the crust, and then pour the filling over the blueberries - last, sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the top.



Then set your delicacy in the oven - now comes the wait.







Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden, and filling puffed. I found about 34 minutes did the trick, but various ovens may alter results.
When you remove the finished product from the oven. There is one last thing you must do before you set it down to cool.

Smell. Deeply. And very much enjoy that smell...

Anyway, wait for it to cool for maybe 10-15 minutes before serving - the recipe says transfer it to a wire rack, but I'm not sure how that's possible, so I skipped this part and it worked fine. Finally, you may cut into squares and dig in!

(Left) Waiting for it to cool

(Left) Ready to serve!

At Grandma's House Once More

We arrived here at Grandma Inwards house late last night, around
eleven o' clock.

I was getting bored on the car trip up, reading the Newsweek and listening
to my iPod, until Megan decided that she needed the working headphones,
and so I had to sit in silence.

But arrive we did, even if the journey was long, and now here I am!
Leah is leaning over my head and needs to blow her nose - AHEM,
and Nicole is sleeping on the opposite couch, while The Christmas
Story Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra's! in the kitchen.

Pretty great.

Shopping

Hey folks!

Today was going to be a boring day... no one was home, except for
me of course. I called, like, everyone, and either they were quite
busy, not home, or avoiding me. Anyway, my boredom ate me alive,
and I drooped around the house, grieving the loss of a perfectly lovely
day.

But then....

Dad came home!

I was moping dramatically in our big green chair, and he asked me
about my sadness. I explained that no one was home... and that I
didn't have everyone who I needed's number.

So enters our hero....
the PHONE BOOK!







This wonderful book full of people that you know, and numbers
that you don't, recently became my best friend. I didn't even
know real people existed in these prehistoric old volumes!

Anyway, my lovely friend Carley was found in this phone book,
and the two of us spent the most delightful day at the mall, especially
the part where she sort-of-treated to Chipotle. Mmmmm....

Here are some lovely pictures to recap the experience.

Brita Says Hello

My little sister Brita, who is standing right next to me, says hello.
Well, Brita, you are now on the internet.

Andy and Melody!

Well, track is finally over. I had my last meet today, so
that is very good, I know, I know! I have some wonderful pictures of me that my dad took while I was running. If you look close at the second picture, as I am closing in on my first lap, starting the second, you can see that my hands are, well, playing piano.
The 800 tires me out, so to keep my mind off the fact that I am about to pass about from zero breath, I practiced my piano. (-:

So this whole weekend has been a whirlwind of exciting happiness... but also definite proof
that time goes by way too fast when you're having a good time.

You see. My aunt and uncle from England, who my family has not seen for 9 years, finally came
back to visit! (They couldn't come before, or they would've.)
Andy and Melody are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, very friendly, humorous and
caring about others. And they both the coolest accents... Melody has a Chinese accent, and Andy has a... a... sort of English accent, sort of not. Anyway, it is pretty wonderful.

We hung out last weekend, and this one, and had an excellent time at Como Park, Trader Joe's, and the MOA amusement park, where me, dad, and Andy went on the rather wonderful ride
that plummets straight down at the beginning... I discovered that my feet can sweat on that ride.
Here are some pictures to recap the wonderful memories... as Dr. Seuss once said, "Do not be sad it is over... Be glad it has happened."

<--Aunt Harriet, Uncle Chris
Just sitting around talking









<--Melody, Andy, Mom, Dad
<-The girls reading, Andy and Melody

Little Obsession

Lately, I've had a slight obsession with Les Miserables,
the soundtrack and book. I'm reading the enormous book
right now, and know almost all the songs by heart.

It's SO good. The book is about Jean Valjean, Cosette, Fantine,
Marius, Eponine... and more. Set during the French Revolution,
it involves love and trauma... I'm not very far, but the songs
kind of explain it. Someone correct if I'm getting this wrong.. (-:

Anyway, I love the song On my Own, a Little Fall of Rain,
Castle on a Cloud... sigh.

Summer has arrived!

Well finally, summer comes!

This morning when I woke up, summer
was sitting in the sunshine - I could
practically taste it.

When I got home I went biking - I love
biking. I randomly pedal around my
neighborhood, waving to people milling
around in their yards... loving summer.
So wonderful.

ticket... )-:

I lost my ticket to go to the play at my school!
I am very upset right now.

You see, it was in my purse. Or Aerie bag. I think,...
anyway, its no where now. And I also lost
5 $ that were my daddy's. I am very sad.

I think I can still go, but now I am wallowing in
self-pity, and the night won't have the quite the
same sheen.

After the play, however, Victoria, Debbie, and
Margaret are coming to hang out for a sleep-over!!!
Wooo!

I'll blog later.
Tell you what happened.

Scrapes and Bumps and Bruises

Guess what happened to me today?

I fell.

On a dirty, dusty, grassy, covered with dirt track.

You see, I was at track, and suddenly, out of the
blue, someone else's foot knocked into my foot, and
then, well, I toppled over, hands first.

I scraped up my elbow and knee, and also my upper
thigh - there was BLOOD on my shorts. Scary, eh?
But worst of all is my hand. I mean, none of this is
that bad, but the dirt will not come out of the cut,
which is an inch wide, I'd say.

When I got home, my parents frowned at the dirty
cut and put Hydrogen Peroxide on it! Or something
that sounds like that. Anyway, it suddenly started
foaming, like bath soap gone bad, and started fizzing
and stinging my poor little hand as if it had a fight
to pick. I started spazzing, and Dad let me wash my
hand off.

But still.
-

Justin and Internet ads

Okay, first of all, you know what I hate?

Those adds that you see when you're on a website -
ones with the grainy, ugly pictures that are all about
getting rid of cellulite or belly fat, or how to plump
your lips. you know what I'm talking about.

Just had to get that out of my system. I just want
to throw my computer at a wall sometimes.

Secondly, I am extremely annoyed with this kid at
my school... named Justin.

I wouldn't mind if he moved to Mexico. (and got Swine
Flu!) Or if he just disappeared. Or if he fell off a cliff,
though that would be horrible for his family.

He's the type that thinks everyone likes him, and when
everyone likes you no matter what, you can do whatever
you want (our culture sort of sucks) and so that's exactly
what he does.

I feel bad about being mean to him at school, though,
so me and God had a chat about how I could be nicer.

How about him moving to South Africa, God? Please?

Swine Flu? Or Virus?

What is all this about the Swine Flu?

What is it? What happens to you if you catch it?
Does it kill people? I know that several people have
died, but it seems to have only killed people who
are weak.

It's contagious, and there are roughly 30 cases in
the US right now. And I know that there are plenty
of cases in Mexico.

Is this gonna be another pandemic?

tWiLiGhT zOnEs!!!

Lately, I seem to be
watching a large amount
of the 1959-1964 TV
show - The Twilight
Zone. This is an excellent
show in black and white,
sci-fi tales written by
the marvelous Rod Serling.
Each one relays some sort
of supernatural story, be it
aliens, talking dolls, or the future. Each one begins with Mr. Serling,
cigarette in hand, explaining the story, and few end with happy
endings, though they are, in a peculiar way, still satisfying.
Good episodes include The Dummy, Talking Tina, Last Stop at Willoughby,
and more!

Grrrrr Track!

Wow, I am so exhausted... just thinking about track.

I've been in track for like, 3 weeks, perhaps? and my legs
are sore every night, I think I pulled something in one
of my ankles, and I'm really stressed out. Just because.

No anger at the track peoples. It's just my sad little self
responsible, and I hate to look the part of the complainer...
but
COMPLAIN
COMPLAIN
COMPLAIN.

And I don't want to go to any more track meets. I was
super nervous and spazzy all day...

I didn't go to track today because I was so tired and
whatnot, and my ankles killed just walking to dairy
queen. (That's right, I got a Moolatte. Be jealous.)

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

Chocolate… Espresso… Fudge… Cake!

Some time ago, I became aware of the amazing (and now infamous in my household) Marcel Desaulniers.
Mr. Desaulniers is pretty much the most amazing gourmet chocolate chef ever to write chocolate cookbooks and own a restaurant called the Trellis. And have a French people mustache. Perhaps the only, too.
Anyway, I checked out two of his insanely wonderful books, the two being Celebrate with Chocolate, and the other being Death By Chocolate. Did you know that Marcel enjoys chocolate?
However, my attempts at being a gourmet chocolatier were foiled by two things: Schnapps, and Salmonella. In Celebrate With Chocolate, I was not able to create ‘Dancing Gingerbread Men with Spicy Peppermint Fudge Cake’, because it called for a small amount of Schnapps, but this is a particularly expensive sort of alcohol… so my plans were ruined by that one ingredient. But from the cookbook Death By Chocolate, I successfully got my mother to make with me…
CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO FUDGE CAKE!!!
It was an experience that will never happen again, and that I will never forget, and that’s for sure. Mother and I toiled for two and a half hours attempting to create a perfect cake. We sort of failed in the looks department, but in the taste section, well, no one will be able to stop this cake from coming back in particularly wonderful dreams. It’s just that good.
However, making it was not that simple. I learned, Monday night, that my mother is not a gourmet chef like Marcel Desaulniers. She did not enjoy making buttercream (which even our fancy friend explained ‘is buttercream from somewhere else to make, but buttercream from heaven when you eat it’) that required a pound of butter, 8 oz of semisweet chocolate, a cup of heavy whipping cream, and uncooked egg whites. At the latter mentioned, Colleen realized that uncooked egg whites can result in salmonella. She almost considered ditching our intense efforts and giving up, but we persevered, and so far, everyone has kept their cake down.
It seems that I won’t be making that ‘White and Dark Chocolate Dacquoise Meringue’ any time soon.

Murder By Death

Want to see a funny movie? Then don't ask me.

I don't know if anyone in the whole world actually

thinks that the movie murder by death is as funny

as me and my cousin nicole find it, but wow, do we 

love that movie!!!!

Murder By Death recalls a weekend (which me and 

my cousin have memorized... ), hosted at Lionell

Twaine's house. Mr. Twaine is an electronic master-

mind, and he has decided to prove his genius by inviting the world's greatest detectives to his house - for dinner and a murder. With renowned actors such as Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, and Peter Sellers, this movie is... different. However, I suggest you watch it, just because those who have not seen it just aren't good enough. (-:

Up at Grandma's!

Hooray! We are here at Grandma Inwards for Easter!

Nicole and me woke up at 7:30 this morning and watched
murder by death, the greatest movie ever. sort of.

Nicole is yelling at me, so I'll write more later...
we need oatmeal cream pies!!!

Company of Liars

Company of Liars
Karen Maitland

This was an exciting book, both extremely well-written and
shocking at several points. I was confused, delighted, and
very intrigued throughout the story. Well done, Karen Maitland!

This book follows the adventures of nine travelers, during the
year of the pestilince, the black death, or whatever. But each
has a story... and their outer story is a facade. But when members
of the company suddenly are slaughtered by a mysterious wolf,
Camelot, (who the story's perspective is from) begins to learn of
the other's dark pasts.

A must read!

Sorry!

to all folks who read my blog:

I'm so sorry! I know, I know, life without
eeeeemy's blog is like life without Viggo
Mortenson... but never fear, I'm back!

Right now, I am involved in track.

I am tired. Exceeeeedingly tired. Its' everyday
after school till 5 PM, aka 2 hours five days a
week. And since I (crazily) signed up all
these cold days. It ain't pleasant.

Also, I recently returned from the most excellentfor long

distance, I've been running almost 4 miles every

single day!!! My legs are sore, my throat is always

parched, and I think I have pnemonia from

vacation I have ever taken. It was so relaxing...
situated on a lake, the apartment-sized building
is super cozy and welcoming. Leaving was more
painful than doing the plank for 2 minutes straight
after your 4 miles are over. (That doesn't feel
particularly pleasant.) I have pictures, maybe I'll
download them on here later.

Grandparentals

Today was both tasty, funny, and extremely enjoyable.
Not to mention that my grandparentals are in town,
and we got to totally hang out with them all night.

It was tasty because I consumed hot chocolate, goldfish,
frosted flakes, Carbone's Pizza, European Chocolate, and
expired hot tamales.

What a day, eh?

It was funny because Elise came over, and us four were
bored TILL we discovered that jumping off couches is
actually fun, and you can take great pictures of yourself
flying.

And who wouldn't want to take pics of themselves flying?

It was extremely enjoyable for reasons I'm too lazy to
repeat. I know you're sad.

Get over it. (-:

Anyway, I hope you all had a good day.
Have you eaten anything tasty lately that I haven't?