Better Homes and Gardens has a great online article that shows how you can organize both a child’s closet and an adult closet using items you can find at the Dollar Store. I particularly like the baskets with key chain hooks and the wire rack for card in a craft closet.
So there is a local blogger that I read, Jacinda, and she does awesome weekly Family Nights. This last one she posted about was an Under the Sea night complete with pictures, food suggestions and activities. Go check it out and tell her NerdMom sent you!
So here we meet again. The kids are in bed, NerdDad is programming, and I am all comfy with my cookies and my laptop. Let’s go!
Everyone is up the next morning after being up all night the night before. I am wondering if the tiredness will play a factor. Spike is whining about Dale. Andrew is a bit wired and that makes him scary. He says he feels he is either going to stab someone or make great food. Freak!
Quickfire Challenge:
Season 2 finalist, Sam, is the guest job. Salads will be the subject of this challenge. They have 45 minutes to create a modern “sexy” salad. Padma was talking about creating the next Waldorf or Cobb salad. To me that screams a relative simplicity but that is not at all the direction the chefs were going. Lisa seemed to forget when you add bananas in something it really dominates. The bottoms were Richard, Stephanie, and Lisa. The top was Spike, Antonia, and Dale. Spike won!
Elimination Challenge:
Padma and Spike bring out trays of greasy foods. It is the lunch from the Chicago Police Academy. They are going to make gourmet boxed lunches using 1 ingredient from each of the whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. Spike’s advantage is an extra 10 minutes shopping and 1 ingredient from each food group that only he can use.
So they are off to Whole Foods. Spike is picking chicken breast, tomatoes, bread and lettuce. These foods were picked specifically to mess with people. Andrew has studied nutrition for 2 years so he is sure that he has an advantage. For service they will hand the officers the food with instructions and the officers have to do any microwaving needed to heat it up. They have 2 hours in the Top Chef kitchen to cook and pack to go. “Someone” has turned up Lisa’s rice so it is burned on the outside and raw in the middle. She hope by putting cooking liquid over it that the rice will steam in the microwave.
Spike: Chicken Salad without Mayo, Raw Veggies
Lisa: Veggie, Edamame, and Shrimp Stirfry with Brown Rice, Berries and Yougurt
Richard: Lentil, Quinoa and Tuna Burritos
Dale: Lettuce Cups out of Cabbage and Marinated Bison
Antonia:Curry Beef with Jasmine and Brown Rice, Fresh Berry Fruit Salad
Andrew: Sushi Roll with pureed Parsnip and Pine Nuts as rice, Salmon TarTar with Veggies
Stephanie: Mushroom Leek Soup with Meatballs
I don’t think that Andrew has properly gaged the interest, or lack of, in salmon tartar. So we will see if they like them. Spike is only putting 2 on the table at a time to make people think they are going quick. Andrew didn’t use a whole grain. When he said he was going raw I wondered how you could do a whole grain raw, apparently you can’t.
Judgment:
The judges see Dale and Stephanie first. They are the top 2. They commended Dale for the bison choice and commended Stephanie for good seasoning. The winner was Dale and received a bottle of Rutherford Hill wine and got a trip to the winery in Napa.
Then the judges wanted to see Spike, Lisa and Andrew. They were the bottom 3. Andrew said studying nutrition repeatedly. The judges said it wasn’t hearty like it was supposed to be and he asked if that was in the rules. Padma said it was supposed to be hearty, nutritious and delicious. Ted also said that he didn’t take the audience into consideration. When Tom said it wasn’t good Andrew said 2 people came back for more. Tom said that was only because it wasn’t enough and they were still hungry. Spike was accused of not using the tomatoes, lettuce or bread well. Tom said the combination of olives, grapes and chicken wasn’t good. Spike simply said, “Salty and sweet, what don’t you understand about salty and sweet”. Come on Tom, let one of the punks have it. Lisa’s long beans, shrimp and brown rice were raw. She said that someone messed with the burner. But that didn’t out weigh the other raw ingredients. When the group was asked if there was anything else. Then Lisa pointed out that someone didn’t use a whole grain. The judges said they were aware. Andrew went off and when Lisa said that he would have done it too, he looked like he was going to punch out someone and cry. Andrew is out!
I have to say that I think Lisa was fine in saying something. She knew that she was on the chopping block last week when she had an impeccable dish but had missed a rule. If someone hasn’t said something and then some else was cut, you would hear all kinds of whining. If it would be a big enough deal to complain about later you best say something before judgment.
For those of you who don’t know, I love tea. Well, today I was checking out a commenter’s blog(Lisa) and she had a great post on tea houses. She linked to this great resource, TeaMap.com. You just enter you zipcode or state and they list tearooms in your area. It even shows you reviews. I already found a place to try here in town. Such a deal!
The kids are napping and I am cleaning my laptop table (which is covered in papers) so let’s go!
So this week Matt is cooking with the girls and I am very intrigued to see how this turns out. The boys and Matt are fighting over the last elimination. Corrie claims Matt isn’t truly part of their team because he is blue and will always be blue.
For the challenge Ramsay has prepared 3 meals that were all missing the meat and has soy substitutes. Then he asks them all what they are missing. Matt said (to the camera) that he thought maybe the beef stew meat was cat because it was stringy (Not that he has eaten cat). After no one gets it and Ramsay tells them what is up, he announces that there will be a blind taste test. He has prepared trays (he does this every season) and feeds them. They then guess what the foods are. Jen had to sit this one out since the teams are uneven (Ramsay’s choice). Matt and Ben were the last ones to go. Ramsay had something special for them. He made a dish that had 10 ingredients. Matt and Ben would alternate and each ingredient was worth a point. The red team locked it up with Matt. Neither guy got any wrong but Matt just put made it out of reach. The blue team had to clean the dorm from top to bottom. Whereas the porch was turned into a spa for the red team. Also Hell’s Kitchen will be open that night. As added torture Ben had to serve beverages to the Red Team.
Both Matt and the Blue team are looking for some justification and redemption as they head into service. Rosanne messed up her first scallops in the fish station. Bobby and Lou Ross were having communication issues on their scallop appetizers. Jen got yelled at for taking over to much and then she seemed to quit talking to anyone. Then Lou Ross redeemed himself to Ramsay. Then Rosanne messed up yet again. Ben messed up his food and then gave Ramsay excuses as to why the guys weren’t communicating. Christina was getting praised for well cooked meat. At the point that half of the red diners were having their entrees none of the blue diners were. Then Petrozza got yelled out for a dirty kitchen while Matt got complimented for his risotto. The Ben ran out of prepped lamb only 5 entrees into service. Then Rosanne gave Ramsay raw food again and then Ramsay accused Jen of being behind and cocky. Then Ramsay threw a tray of food on Jen’s station. He then raked both Jen and Rosanne over the coals. Then Ben got food back from the customers. Ramsay had it with Ben and Ramsay closed it all down.
Ramsay wasn’t happy with anyone except Matt and the Blue team lost. Each member of the Blue team was to come up with a nominee. Ben starts playing games. He nominated himself and then started a ground campaign to nominate Lou Ross. Then there is talk of everyone getting nominated. The guys start with the nominate every one plan and then Petrozza nominated himself (making 2 against him). He said he couldn’t nominate any of the other guys and Ramsay said he was the most gracious man on the team. Then Ramsay kicked out Ben. I think Ramsay goes into this point knowing who he is going to kick out so he is a bit impervious to the games that are played with nominating. Ramsay then asked for a volunteer to go to the Blue team.
Technorati Tags: Hell’s Kitchen, Fox
So now that I am back from a couple of crazy weeks of event and illness I have done a little blogging. I just thought I would let you all know what is up around the nerdosphere.
Nerd Family Food has an awesome recipe that is a dead ringer for those yummy Red Lobster Biscuits. And even better is that they are easy! Nerd Family Things has a great, nerdy, gift worthy craft. Making Money Keeping Money has some great coupons to some online women’s clothing stores. While you are over there don’t forget to look at some of the great restaurant birthday freebies I found. Over at Blog Fresno I have posted about a couple opportunities to get all your shredding done by someone else for free. I have also heard that one of the contributors is planning on writing a cool movie review. So keep your eyes open on all the blogs to see what great stuff is coming up next!
**Update I forgot that I amended this recipe. I add a little more garlic powder to the final brushing (ie the odd measurement). I have updated the recipe.
These are the yummy Red Lobster biscuits. These are so easy that I am putting them up for Works For Me Wednesday. They are easy and always a big hit in this house! But they need to be fresh to the meal so I mix them up and put them on the cookie sheet right after I start dinner. Then, as I am pulling out the main course and starting to plate, get drinks, etc. I just pop them in the oven!
Ingredients:
2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (fine shred if able)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
3/8 tsp garlic powder
Process:
Preheat oven to 450 degree. Mix Bisquick, milk and cheese until a soft dough forms. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Mix butter and garlic powder. Brush mixture over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet.
Technorati Tags: baking, Red Lobster Biscuits
The Bear Necessities has made the coolest knit rocket ship. This would make a great gift for a one year old, if you happen to be crafty (hint, hint for any of you knitters who would like to get the NerdPud something for her impending birthday;). This grew out of Lucy’s desire to make something for her son’s room and now the blogosphere can benefit. Just go over to her blog, The Bear Necessities, and follow the pattern she has put up. I really need to learn how to knit!
Technorati Tags: Knitting, Crafting, Rocket Ships
So I have been doing a little online shopping lately and have had some not-so-good experiences with at least one being my own fault because I should have known better. So I am sharing so a)I can vent and b)you out there in the blogosphere can be warned.
First up is Walmart. I was looking to buy a specific stroller for the NerdPud, Jeep All-Weather Umbrella Stroller – Ice Pink
The second store is Drugstore.com. I shop there regularly to get NerdDad’s lactose intolerance pills. While I am there I always see what else they have on sale in order to get the free shipping. So I found this great deal (Buy 1 Get 1 Free) on a Clairol temporary hair coloring product. So I put them in my shopping cart and had to get up and do some things. You know how it goes, dinner and bedtime for the kids, but that is the beauty of online shopping. Well, I come back to finish my order and my cart has been changed. They were now (versus before when I checked) charging me for each hair coloring kit. So I drop them out of my cart and went back to the coupon page. Well apparently while I had gotten up the coupon expired (I assume). There was nothing about expirations on the page at all and I had no warning. I would have finished shopping earlier if I had been given any warning. So I dropped all the hair coloring and the conditioner that I had added. I ordered only the medication I needed. I am extremely annoyed!
Technorati Tags: drugstore.com, walmart.com
Quick Fire Challenge:
Tom joined Padma in the quick fire challenge. The chefs did a knife pull to be separated into 2 teams: Fork and Spoon.
Bride:Antonia, Stephanie, Richard, Andrew
Groom:Dale, Nikki, Spike, Lisa
So for the quick fire is the relay race for the Mise en Place Tray. They need to 1)peel and supreme 5 oranges, 2)clean and turn 2 artichokes, 3)clean and 2 fillets off a monk fish, 4) make 1 quart of mayonnaise. They get a couple of minutes to decide who does what. Right off the bat Stephanie and her team know what they are doing. The other team was having problems figuring out who would do what and Dale is disgusted that the others hadn’t made mayo by hand since culinary school.
Lisa and Antonia go head to head on the oranges. Lisa smoked her. Then we move onto to Spike vs Andrew. Spike was flying and he evened up the race. Then is was Richard vs Dale on the fish. I have to say that I thought they would be evenly matched. They ended pretty much dead even. So then we have Stephanie and Nikki head to head on the mayo. Nikki seems to be faltering whereas Stephanie does this all the time. So Stephanie rocked it out and won! Dale just flips out a bit and punched a locker.
Challenge:
So instead of Restaurant Wars they are doing Wedding Wars. So each team will cater to half the guests (125 guest each) and get $5,000 to do it with. The bride and groom (Corey and JP) run their own restaurant and wedding venue. The team that won the challenge got to choose bride or groom’s side. The chefs will be working through the night.
Groom’s side:
Appetizer’s: Various Flat Breads, Brushetta
Buffet: Tortellini, Antipasti, Filet Mignon, Chilean Sea Bass, Orecchiette with Ragu
Groom’s Cake: Hazelnut Chocolate
The groom is Italian and that is the food choice. Nikki seemed to take control because Spike and Lisa differed to her but she wouldn’t take responsibility. Dale on the other hand was not willing to give over control. So Nikki won’t lead. Everyone believed that Dale was doing to much and not really doing it well.
Bride:
Appetizers: Pizza, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Short Ribs and Blue Cheese wrapped in Phyllo
Buffet: Crispy Chicken, Brisket, Filet Mignon, Creamed Spinach, Potato Gratin
Wedding Cake: Chocolate and Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling
The bride is Southern. So mid-west meets the south. Richard instigated the choosing the Bride. Richard definitely has more of a team mentality (ie helping on others dishes) but Andrew didn’t appreciate it. Andrew seems to wants to have his own separate dish.
Judgment:
Gale Gand was the guest judge. I love her and everything I have seen her on. I use her recipes.
So during service everything started shaking out. The winner seemed obvious. The groom’s side had thick and dry brushetta. Whereas on the bride side the judges disliked (ok, I think hated) the chicken dish and the creamed spinach.
Not surprisingly, the bride’s team won. Richard won individually but he deferred to Stephanie since she did the wedding cake. The prize was $2,000 gift certificate to Crate and Barrel so they are going to split it.
When the groom’s team was brought out Dale and Spike got into it. Full out yelling in front of the judges. Dale got slammed for doing to much and not pulling the menu in. Nikki got kicked out for not stepping up as a leader and for bad pasta.