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Food

Top Chef Masters Season 2 Gets Going!

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I don’t know what I am more excited about: the fact that Top Chef Masters has started back up or the fact it is on Hulu so I don’t have find some poor quality airing somewhere? Either way lets jump right in! Let the snark go!

Govind Armstrong!!! Love him on everything I have seen him on (Top Chef, Iron Chef, etc) Susan Feneger? I have never seen her without Mary Sue! Then there were Anna Sorun, Jerry Traunfeld, Jimmy Bradley (Harold was his sous chef), and Tony Matuano.
First Quick Fire of the season! I am kind of shocked that we are starting off in teams. A Chinatown challenge could be really good. Ah, but it was a trick. It is the mini mart! This is a season 1 challenge so I think it is totally fair! At least they get to cook in their own kitchen. The Bravery is judging? Never heard of them.
Govind’s red mac and cheese looks very good. I think the spice in the Cheetos could add a dimension to their sauce. Susan and Tony’s bread pudding looks pretty good. A crispy rice cake? Not sure what that means but the clamesco sauce sounds a little creepy. Susan and Tony’s apple banana bread pudding won the quick fire! Not that surprised.
So they are doing a team elimination challenge. I don’t really care for it and neither do some of the chefs. They have to make a duo dish for 30 couples to have a first date with.
Susan and Tony’s styles are different but they seem to be able to work together where as Govind seems to just not like the idea of working with someone. Govind and Jimmy are making a duo of lamb with seared lamb carpacchio and lamb loin. I don’t know about lamb carpacchio even if it is seared. Ana and Tony are going exotic with duck done 2 ways with flowers in both. Susan and Tony did pepper shrimp with scallops and pasta. Yum!
Judges seemed to like the lamb carpacchio but they weren’t quite as happy with the chop. They thought was chewy. Jerry’s duck was a hit but Ana’s wasn’t as pretty as it was tasty. They didn’t think the ducks matched. James wasn’t sure if he liked Tony’s pasta. But Susan’s seemed to be a total hit and they seemed to match up well. James seemed to have the most bad things to say about everyone. Not a surprise!
In the end Susan and Tony edged out out Jerry and Ana by 1 star. Govind and Jimmy were kind of left in the dust.

I think that was a great start for a new season! I am excited to see how the rest of the season will go!

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Party Time!!!!

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Welcome all! I feel so honored that you have stopped by! So what is this crazy site, you wonder? Well, here we we focus on things. Basically that is it;). Since I do homeschool my 4 nerdlings so I often post on books and tools that we use. I also have a Frugal Homschooler feature that focuses on the free educational resources that are available online. I also look at things that are just helpful around the house, gifts and just great stuff!

I am also blessed to get to hold giveaways sporadically so make sure that you keep on the look out for those!

So what are your favorite things?

Make sure that you check out some of the other great parties!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

So prizes I would like to win (who wouldn’t;): Of course the grand prize of a laptop! But other than that… I would love US101, US 112, US39, US 105, US87 but I would be happy with just about anything (but my youngest child is about 3;).

Food, Uncategorized

Party!!!!

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Welcome all you fellow partiers from the Ultimate Blog Party! Thanks for stopping by to see me! And what is a party without food and fun?

Why don’t you get yourself some bacon wrapped asparagus? And get some shredded roast beef and put it on some of the fresh butter rolls! Make sure you get some dessert too because what would life be without some chocolate;)? We have a super easy chocolate cream pie and some peanut butter brownie bites.

Isn’t life better with good food and good friends;)? My goals is to make easy delicious food, share tips and maybe watch some tv. So what are you favorite food secrets;)?

Visit more partiers over at UBP!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

So prizes I would like to win (who wouldn’t;): Of course the grand prize of a laptop! But other than that… I would love US101, US 112, US39, US 105, US87 but I would be happy with just about anything (but my youngest child is about 3;).

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Welcome to My Party!

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Welcome all you Ultimate Blog Partiers! (and all of the rest of you too;)

I always have a hard time knowing what to put in these type of posts. How shocking that someone who calls herself NerdMom would be socially awkward;). As you can see, we are a nerdy lot over here. We love to have fun, we love to learn, and we love our family!

We homeschool our 4 kids and so that gives me plenty of things to write about. We also love politics. But when it all boils down to it I am a mom who loves showing off my kids’ art project, struggles with organizing my house and loves sharing tips that help our lives.

So what are you interests and passions?

Want to meet more Partiers? Head on over!
Ultimate Blog Party 2010

So prizes I would like to win (who wouldn’t;): Of course the grand prize of a laptop! But other than that… I would love US101, US 112, US39, US 105, US87 but I would be happy with just about anything (but my youngest child is about 3;).

education, Homeschoooling

223rd Carnival of Homeschooling: Open House

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Hey guys! Welcome back to my house! I feel like it has been so long  since I have seen you all. Come on in and relax for a while!

Some of the kids are over in the playroom looking at Texas  Homesteader’s pictures from A Photographic Nature Walk. It looks  like so much fun! The Thinking Mother is discussing Prepping for  Compute This Event This Week. I loved Science Olympiad! My kids  are playing with the post-Easter Peeps over at Frugal  Homeschooler: It’s a Peep’s World. Our Curious Home is sharing all  about Wonderful Water Treatment Tour. Who says homeschooling  only happens at home?

Over at the kitchen table there is a group talking about educational helps and methods. Homeschool Online has a great post that gives both encouragement and tools for those who have highschoolers called Homeschooling Through Highschool? Is That You? Why Homeschool shares some great Free Online Course Materials that I am not only going to use for the kids but also for me! Let’s Play Math has finally heard What a Teacher Wants to Hear! Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers talk about Adding Spark to Your Homeschool Through Hands On Learning: History. Home is Where You Start has a very helpful post in Homeschool Scheduling: A Chalkboard Approach!

This group over by the piano is talking about parenting advice. As a homeschooling parent I think parenting seems to have more of an effect on their education than the actual schooling. Janice Campbell reminds us when teaching to Give Our Children the Benefit of the Doubt. Parent at the Helm gives us an excerpt from a book by Linda Dobson in One of Homeschooling’s Benefits for Parents: You Can See Clearly Now.  Barbara Frank reminds us of The Future, If We Don’t Chase Our Kids Outside to Play.  High on Homeschool talks about Slow Parenting. I have never heard the term before but I like it!

Over by the book shelves they are having some deep conversations. Consent of the Governed is talking about some educators in the school system and how They Want Babies.  Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog is discussing that Secular Homeschoolers Don’t Owe the Fundies Anything.

See that group over on the couch who is eating chocolate? They are talking about their experiences. It is always nice to know that we aren’t alone in this crazy adventure that we call homeschooling! Boarding in Bedlam gets us started by asking, “Was Your Day This Bad?” I must say it is hilarious! Mama Squirrel over at Dewey’s Treehouse answers the Review Crews Cruise question on avoiding burnout. The Common Room recounts Multi-Tasking for Lunch. It is a recent lunch time episode of multi-tasking demonstrates how a parent can teach a wide range of ages (3, 6, 11, 14, and special needs) and still get lunch on the table.=)

Renae at Heart of the Matter reminds us that it isn’t just us but Homeschooling is Messy! Home Spun Juggling compares homeschooling to the feeling of sitting in the front row with I’ll be in the Back. And can’t we all relate to that feeling? Pamela at the Blah, Blah, Blah Blog talks about the Blasted Nutrition Class that she took and the “wonderful” feelings it left;).

Thank you so much for coming to hang out with me! I hope you drop back by soon! But in the meantime, send in your favorite homeschooling post for next week’s Carnival of Homeschooling. It will be hosted over at Our Curious Home. Make sure that you go read all these fabulous entries and comment so they know what you think!

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Happy Easter!!

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I hope you all have a wonderful Easter Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ! I am excited for tomorrow because my 2 oldest kids (NerdBug 8 and NerdPie 6) are going to be baptized at our church’s 7am Sunrise Easter service!

You might ask why an Easter baptism service. Well, it goes into what baptism logistically symbolizes. You die with Christ, you are buried with Christ and you are resurrected with Christ. Did I mention that we are full immersion;)? Now, I don’t know a verse that teaches that (before you send angry emails) but it is death of the old life and birth of a new life. And it is symbolic! Both children have asked Christ to be the Lord and Savior of their lives. I am very excited!

In the spirit of baptism We are That Family had a hilarious post! We will have to make sure the 2 older kids don’t try to help out our 2 littles with the baptism;).

If you are in the Fresno area and would like to see a great baptism service come to New Cov on Nees between Maple and Cedar on Easter at 7am! If you aren’t up for the 7am (and this is the first one I have been to) we are also going to have great Easter services at 9am and 10:40am! I will be at the Women’s Ministry cart between the main services so drop by and say Hi! Just mention you are looking for NerdMom;).  Hope to see you there.

humor, nerdy, Video

Intel Humor

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Sometimes I feel like my and NerdDad’s humor looks like this to the rest of the world;).

Though just to be clear, that would not be funny to me. I might beat you up, not so much with the funny;). Don’t mess with a girl’s equation.

Food

Bring on the Foam!

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You faithful Top Chef fans will remember Marcel Vigneron. He is the cocky gastronomist who almost had all his hair cut off by drunken cast mates.

He will be starring in a new series for the Syfy channel called Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen. It was announced during the March upfronts along with some really odd reality shows;). I don’t know if it is going to be good or not butI am sure it will be interesting!

Christianity, headlines, TV

Standing Alone

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Neal McDonough has chosen to take a bold step. A step that may distance him a bit from his industry. McDonough (of TinMan, Boomtown, Desperate Housewives and much more) has chosen to walk away from, or possibly got fired from, the new ABC show Scoundrels. Why, you might ask? Because he refuses to do sex scenes. Yup, you read that right. Someone who was on Desperate Housewives, with Edie Brit no less, never got it on.

Apparently this has always been his position. Marc Cherry knew it as he walked into Desperate Housewives and McDonough’s people say that the people on Scoundrels knew it too. Part of the hubbub is because he was replaced 3 days into filming. I can see this going down a couple of different ways. Either his people (or himself) thought they could negotiate a script change because they happen all the time. Or the people behind the show thought they could talk McDonough into changing his view. I do have to say, his character is going to be in prison so how hard would it be to avoid showing him having sex?

But who cares? McDonough hasn’t come out saying that sex, sex on tv or actors who are in these scenes are bad. He just chosen to not participate due to his convictions. But people are taking it personally it seems. He made a decision for himself so if you feel guilty, examine your own conscience.

Over on Deadline many of the commentors seemed offended that he doesn’t have a problem playing someone who is a murderer. There is a difference. Yes, I understand that it is acting (and what acting means) but I also understand some mechanics. I also understand that I don’t want my husband rubbing up against some actress no matter how platonic it might be. Whereas, I don’t really care if he shoots blanks at you and you are spattered with fake blood. If it is on my carpet, that is whole different issue;).

I have always liked Neal McDonough in everything I have seen him in. I also know that taking a stand like this can cost you in Hollywood. So I for one am willing to step forward so he isn’t standing alone. I am not saying all have to make his choice (though, that would make watching tv a little less uncomfortable for some of us) but respect the fact that it is his choice to make.

(HT: Adam Baldwin)