Diamonds & Coals

Coals: The Hyatt in Cambridge no longer serves ginormous ice cream sundaes in their lobby.
Diamonds: The Legal Seafood in Kendall Square has brought back their fried soft shelled crab sandwich for a limited time...it's on the lunch menu and it's fantabulous.

Not quite separate...not quite together...

Adam and I stopped by the supermarket tonight to pick up some groceries. As Adam diligently browsed the Rice-a-Roni/Pasta-Roni aisle with his coupon in hand, I realized that these boxes of Pasta-Roni Adam was purchasing would become my Pasta-Roni in just two weeks and I wasn't sure whether I even liked Pasta-Roni. Twenty minutes later, as we were checking out, I noticed that Adam had placed a conveyor belt divider seperating our purchases. The following is a reconstructed conversation:

plasticann: Why don't we just pay together?
Adam: Well, if we keep our groceries separate, we won't have to divide them later so it'll be easier....plus, I like seeing how much I've saved...the percent at the bottom of the receipt.
plasticann: So, you're concerned my purchases will drag down your "percentage saved" number?
Adam: Well yeah...none of your items are on sale and I even used coupons.
plasticann: [pointing to the grapes, yogurt and mix] This, this and that are on sale.
Adam: [reluctantly] I guess.
***a few minutes later as Adam kindly swipes his credit card through and pays for plasticann's groceries
Adam: [admiringly] Wow...those grapes are a lot off!
plasticann: [examining her receipt] Yeah, only 79 cents a pound. Where's the percentage saved?
Adam: [pointing] Here...you saved 33%.
plasticann: Not bad, how much did you save?
Adam: 32%
plasticann: Booyah! Ha Ha!

Note: I didn't even have to clip coupons. Thanks to my steeply discounted grapes, I still beat Adam despite my full priced butter and Coffeemate.

Green Pants Girl

I've noticed my recent tendency to unintentionally dress in outfits themed after my wedding colors...pink and green. I look like invitations, bridesmaids dresses, flowers and favors all rolled into one.

We are every true to Zrown...

Notable events from my 5th year reunion.

1. Steve was kind enough to give me a ride to [and from] our reunion. On our way across campus to pick up his dorm room key, we passed through the mail center where Steve demonstrated his Bourne like muscle memory. He successfully opened the combination lock on his old student mailbox. He's not sure how he does it, but I did witness the amazing feat. I should also note that Steve did not tamper with the mail. On the otherhand, the mailbox was empty so there was nothing to tamper with.

2. Corinna and I shared a Spike's Texas Ranger hotdog before heading over to Kellie's bridal shower...it was delicious.

3. Here's a shout out to my buddy Kellie who's getting married in two weeks. Turns out she still reads this blog every so often so "ahoy there matey."

4. I stopped by the coed fraternity I was a part of in college on Saturday night. Why was this ever a cool place to hang out? It's a basement with rooms and it smells funky. Maybe I have matured or maybe I've become high maintenance.

5. Providence now has it's own Cold Stone Creamery...Thayer Street is much improved.

6. Saturday night was "Ragin' at the Ratty." The Ratty [our cafeteria] has new tables and chairs and the juice machine look new too. Unfortunately the "rager" wasn't much of a culinary feast, university food services did not provide chicken fingers, frost your own cupcakes and all of our old favorites.

Feeding Schedule

With the weather being miserable, I have no incentive to leave my house. In fact, I made it my goal today not to leave my house. I was so dedicated to my goal, I didn't even get my morning paper. When I did finally venture out my front door, it was just to the inner alcove for the pizza I ordered for "linner." That's the main problem I'm up against with my unemployed state, my eating schedule is way off. There's no Steve stopping by around noon to ask whether I need to get lunch so I end up eating pizza at 3pm and skipping dinner because I'm not hungry and waking up in the middle of the night...hungry. Not to worry, I have lunch plans with Wheezy tomorrow so I'll be up, showered and dressed like a normal person.

Unemployed Woman Attacked by Pestilent Styrofoam Packing Peanuts

On my first day of de facto unemployment, I spent two hours unpacking dishes from our Macy's registry. Styrofoam packing peanuts are the bane of my bridal existance and frankly, I find them enraging. What I despise more than packing peanuts are the lower quality packing peanuts Macy's uses, the ones that chip and splinter into infinately smaller styrofoam pieces. Possessing a strong will and empowered by static cling, these peanuts not only squirrel their way into all crevices, but they refuse to budge from any surface. Unable to efficiently contain the styrofoam peanut hades my living room had become, I had to methodically pick up each styrofoam chip from 2mm in size on up and forcefully fling it into my trash bag. I also had to periodically de-static my hands using a dusting cloth so the chips would not cling to my person. I'm thinking about writing a "Dear Macy's" missive detailing all my issues with their styrofoam packing peanuts. Other than that...love the dishes!

Don't use Hot Water

I was hanging out with plasticfamily the other night when I started to wash egg residue off some dishes. plasticmom hollers, "don't use hot water because it'll cook the egg right onto the dishes." plasticaunt breaks out in hysterics and says, "like the time plasticmom put egg in her hair..."

plasticaunt: plasticmom was a freshman in college and she washed her hair with an egg. Unfortunately, she used hot water and it cooked the egg right into her hair.
plasticmom: I don't remember this?
plasticaunt: I remember, it took a really long time to get all the cooked egg out of your hair.
plasticann: How old were you? If plasticmom was in college, you must have been 14 or so. I bet you thought it was soooo hilarious. Did you just point and laugh and laugh and laugh?
plasticaunt: Of course...I still laugh whenever I think about it.
plasticmom: I really don't remember this.

In & Out...that's what a hamburger's all about

Ain't that the truth. g'ma and I both enjoyed a delicious lunch of cheeseburgers and french fries from In & Out. I even splurged and got a strawberry shake. In & Out is the only fast food chain Eric Schlosser recommends in Fast Food Nation. I just love how In & Out kicks it "old school" with a simple "official" menu of just eight items, evenly bifurcated between solids and liquids: the double double, cheeseburger, hamburger, fries, milkshakes, sodas, coffee and milk. At $1.85 for a cheeseburger and $1.09 for some freshly cut french fries, the prices are fabulous and the old timey circa fifties uniforms are splendid. plasticmom covets the massive safety pins used to pin the aprons for all In & Out "associates." For those in the know, they also have a "secret" menu of special "burgers" that include the "4 x 4" and the "protein style."

Hangin' out in La La Land

I got in yesterday and I've been very productive food wise. Last night we enjoyed delicious Korean food and today I insisted we stop by "Won-Tin" after church for their super crispy chicken chow mein noodes and their fresh wonton soup. I hit the mall this afternoon and had a refreshing lemonade from Hot Dog on a Stick and a Auntie Anne's pretzel. I would have ordered a corn dog to go with my lemonade, but I'd just eaten lunch. Walking home from the mall, I bought a slice of Marie Callender's fresh strawberry pie. Heck, it's not even dinnertime...the possibilities are endless.

Last Day

Well, after five years, tomorrow is my last day here at ZEI--Zexecon--ZMA. My coworkers surprised me with Thai and sorbet for lunch and they even got me a parting gift, a Kate Spade crystal bowl and some Godiva chocolates for my bowl. The bowl is very lovely, quite heavy and truly unexpected, but I seriously doubt the chocolates will actually make it into the bowl. Rachel suggested green apples and I'm feel compelled to buy a bag even though I'm not a fan of green apples. Finally, a classic Steve move, he signed my card, "Happy Birthday." I'm going to cut out his greeting and save it for October when my real birthday rolls around. I spent most of yesterday cleaning out my office. Chalk it up to having been privileged enough to have had my own office, but I had an obscene amount of personal stuff. Steve graciously helped me haul six plus boxes home from work, including a long forgotten sleeping bag. Everyone asked, "why do you have a sleeping bag at work?" I really don't have a good answer. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but then again I was probably sleep deprived.

"Distressed Rustic" [Free] Chairs

I stopped by Harvest Market in Central last night to pick up some old school CutRite Wax Paper Sandwich Bags when I noticed a sign that read, "Free Chairs & Tables Ask the Manager on Duty." There were stacks of small tables with heavy metal legs, schoolhouse style straight back chairs and these black wooden dining chairs with a curved back. I was incredulous, but the manager confirmed that the furniture was actually free and I could take whatever I wanted. They had just replaced all their chairs and tables in the cafe area and they were trashing the old stuff. Adam and I secured a ride with my roommate Carin, who has a station wagon, and headed back to Harvest to claim our seven black dining chairs. They're a bit dusty and some are a little rickety. Hopefully, they'll work out once we clean them up and tighten some screws. I tried to describe the paint job on our chairs as a "distressed rustic look," but Adam says my assessment is too generous.

Rustic Kitchen

Adam and I celebrated Mother's Day yesterday with plasticmom in absentia. The only caveat...we had to eat something plasticmom would enjoy. Fortunately, plasticmom enjoys everything. Feeling famished, I insisted on eating MEAT for dinner last night so we wound up at Rustic Kitchen. Here's the lowdown:

Field Greens: Take it or leave it. Pile of greens lightly dressed with "too small" croutons.
Flank Steak with truffled fries and tomatoes: Hit the spot. Crunchy fries garnished with a head of roasted garlic. Steak was flavorful and delicious.
Macaroni & Cheese: Adam was disappointed that there was not crunchy topping on his Mac&Cheese. I enjoyed it, but it felt more appropriate as a side dish rather than a main course.

Overall Verdict: Tasty, but slightly overpriced. Pizzas looked good and the restaurant is nicely decorated. Fresh bread came with a delicious white bean/garlic/olive oil dip.

Got A Cake

Took the day off
Went to a taping of the Phantom Gourmet
Got a cake...a whole one
Score!

Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper

Adam's been hankering to try the new Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper so I picked up a bottle for him last week. I left it in the office fridge to chill and forgot about it until a certain Prof. Z, my boss who teaches a class every so often at a local business school I like to call BIT, reminded me. The following is a reconstructed conversation.

Prof. Z: Is that your Diet Dr. Pepper in the fridge? I've been in court all day and let's say I'll do you any favor, within reason, if I can have your Diet Dr. Pepper. Like a good grade in my class.
plasticann: Sure you can have it, but I thought you said last week that you would flunk Steve and me if we took your class.
Prof. Z: Not you...just Steve. How did I know it was your Diet Dr. Pepper?
plasticann: I was wondering the same thing.

[later that afternoon]

plasticann: Hey Steve, Prof. Z says he's not going to flunk me...just you. Ha Ha! I think he was just kidding about the whole flunking thing. Note to self...I've gotta get Adam another Diet Dr. Pepper.

A 99 kinda day

Adam's roommate, Zaron went out to lunch with their friend Zayne to the 99 restaurant over by Alewife. Zaron had never been to the 99, but it turns out Zayne is a frequent customer since the waitress cheerfully greeted him "Good to see you again." Adam was slated to join Zayne for dinner that very evening and they hadn't decided where to go. I really wanted Adam to say to Zayne, "you know...I've never been to the 99...I've always wanted to go there," but Adam refused to play along.

Later that night, my Carin, Katie and I hopped into Nicole's Prius for our jaunt out to the Friendly's in Charlestown. Unfortunately, Friendly's had just closed for the night when we pulled in a little past nine. We didn't have a lot of snack options...Dunkin Donuts, Papa Ginos and a dismal looking Foodmasters. Lo and behold, like a beacon, across the strip mall parking lot stood a 99 restaurant. We were all hungry for dessert and I was looking forward to some greasy munchies so we hopped into the Prius and drove 200 yards across the parking lot and parked in front of the 99.

We ventured into the 99 and the unenergetic hostess lethargically led us to our table. Granted it was nine at night, but this place was empty...there were three people seated. We were greeted by a peppy server with an accent I could not place [Irish?/Scottish?/British?]. It was all very disorienting, but our tap waters were garnished with wedges of lemon. We perused the menu and debated what to order. Nicole had just walked 20 miles for the Walk for Hunger and was thus, very hungry. She wanted to order everything on the menu, but settled on the fried seafood dinner. I wanted to order the side of gravy for 29 cents just to see what it would be like, but ended up with a bowl of cream of broccoli soup since they were all out of iceberg wedge salads. We shared an order of potato skins and some massive desserts. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with my first ever 99 experience. Sure the place was initially odd and disconcerting, but the deliciously crispy potato skins won me over. My soup was quite nice and the mile high ice cream pie was... well heavenly. What's not to love about butterfinger and chocolate ice cream layered into a chocolate cookie pie crust?

Here's to Zayne and the 99. Zayne's boundless enthusiasm for and expertise in the subject of savory potato concoctions is truely impressive. Afterall, it was Zayne who taught us how to substitute our ho-hum side orders for those transcendent potato bakes at Pizzaria Unos. With a side of gravy for only 29 cents, anyone can afford to eat out at the 99 in Charlestown.

Pretty

Adam and I opened up some of our wedding gifts last night and the following is a reconstructed conversation about a frying pan.

Adam: [admiring an All Clad stainless steel eight inch frying pan] It's so blah blah blah!
plasticann: Um...did you say, "It's gorgeous?"
Adam: No!......I said, "It's so pretty!".... I guess that's the same thing

Pretty was the word of the day since Adam also used it to describe all of the following items: other stainless steel cookware, a knife and a set of flatware. Adam thinks all shiny stainless steel kitchen items are "pretty."

Two eggs do not a stick of butter make

I wanted to bake Madeleines last night so I hauled out the Julia Child's Baking Cookbook and the Madeleine pans Wheezy got me for x-mas/bridal shower. I checked out Julia's recipe and compared it to Joy of Cooking recipe I had used before. The ingredient disparity lineup:

Julia v. Joy
6 v. 4 eggs
3 Tbs v. 12 Tbs butter

Taking the butter disparity into account, I decided to give Julia's less buttery version a whirl. I wondered if the two extra eggs would compensate for the loss of a stick of butter. Sure enough, these Julia Madeleine baked up dry. The upside...you can eat loads of Julia Madeleines...four dry ones for every buttery Joy Madeleine.

This post has been made possible through the generosity of Wheezy.

Weekend Update

Adam's mom, sister and plasticmom flew in from sunny California last weekend for the plasticann bridal shower. MGDub and her team of BMs did an awesome job planning a really fun and thoughful afternoon tea shower. Here are the culinary updates from last week and weekend.

Solas - plasticmom and I tried Solas on Tuesday mostly because it was in her hotel. We shared the fried calamari appetizer and the mac & cheese. The calamari was tasty, but the cheese sauce for the mac & cheese was over processed...like cheese product cheese whiz. Grade: C

Flour Bakery - We took a cab down to the South End on Wednesday to run some wedding related errands and stopped by Flour Bakery for a tasty snack. Fruit tart and raspberry seltzer made for a refreshing mid-afternoon snack. Only downside...it's "tooooo faaaaaah." Grade: A-

Via Matta - Service was immaculate and discreet, the supply of chewy rustic bread was constant and my leftovers were tied up with a raffia bow to boot. plasticmom and I enjoyed the Crunchy Eggplant, basil, marinated tomatoes and reggiano, Pollo al Mattone--”chicken under brick” with sauteed swiss chard and Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. Unfortunately, even I didn't love my surprisingly hefty Vanilla Panna Cotta with Local Cranberries and Pistachios parfait enough to finish it. Grade for Value: B/Grade for Yumminess: A-

Wisteria House - We checked out Wisteria House on Newbury Street on Thursday night. The decor is best described as cramped, greasy and oddly unsettling. The pork chop plate was undermarinated and bland. The rice stick noodles and the scallion pancakes were tasty. The pan fried raviolis were oddly elongated and underwhelming. I could take or leave the honeydew shake, but the kiwi shake made the evening with its intense kiwi flavor. Adam, plasticmom and I unanimously agreed to stick with Taiwan Cafe. Grade: B-

Similans - Brown Sugar Cafe's new Cambridge outpost is near the Cambridgeside Galleria on First Street. I walked in knowing I wanted an order of my beloved Mango Curry and I walked out even more devoted to my beloved Mango Curry. The Drunken Noodles were way too spicy, prompting me to order a thai iced tea to cool down my taste buds. An exciting new find now that I have a conveniently located source for that lovely Mango Curry. Grade: A-

Tealuxe - MGDub and I were famished so we stopped by Tealuxe on Saturday afternoon for some pressed egg/bacon/cheese sandwiches. Even though the sandwiches bore the obvious grill marks of a "sandwich maker" contraption, MGDub and I enjoyed our crispy snacks. My red bliss potato salad was way too gloppy with mayo and therefore unappetizing. MGDub's crisp looking side salad was a better bet. A bit pricey for a high quality Egg McMuffin, but delicious nonetheless. Grade: B+

Stay tuned for thoughts on The Bristol Lounge, Penang and Orleans.

Airline Meals

Gleaned from the NYTimes, an article about a website where users can submit photos of airline meals. Here's to finding out what you're missing and rejoicing at what you're not missing.

Mrs. Banana Bread

plasticann: I love banana bread. Actually I love my banana bread.
Steve: Why don't you marry it?
plasticann: I think I might...forget Adam!

The Man Date

Detailing all the rules and nuances to ensure an unambiguous and unawkward heterosexual man date, an article from last Sunday's nytimes.com. When in doubt, hyper masculine steakhouses override all potential man date landmines.

oldEric and newEric

I had an appointment to meet with "Eric" the investment guy at the bank today so I could make my Roth IRA contribution before tax day. It'd been two years since I last met with "Eric," but last I remembered, he was tall and lanky and middle aged. When I walked in, "Eric" was younger, heftier and bearded. Turns out, oldEric was replaced by a newEric, thus the utter lack of confusion on the bank's part when I asked to meet with "Eric" and why I looked visibly confused when I walked in.

Toooooo Tired!

When Adam and I were at Crate & Barrel yesterday registering, I came upon a trio of very tired kids. Picture this, a furniture display of a bedroom set. One kid is sitting in a chair with her chin resting on the chair back, another is leaned up against a dresser propping herself up on her elbow and the last kid had plopped himself face down into the comforter on the bed. I kinda wondered whether they were real kids because none of them moved at all while I was browsing their section of the store, not even an eye flicker. My favorite has to be the kid who was laying face down on the bed. Looked like he just ran out of steam, lost all mobility and keeled over the bed. Elsewhere, kids were less dramatically curled up in armchairs and sprawled out on couches waiting for their parents to finish shopping.

Darned good chocolate cupcakes

Taking a page from the Cake Mix Doctor, I whipped up some chocolate cupcakes last night. I'm not sure if they're actually more "darned good" than regular cupcakes, but they were mighty tasty hot out of the oven and still pretty good for breakfast this morning.

1 box devil's food cake mix with pudding
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup warm water
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1.5 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together on low for 1 minute and medium for 2 minutes. Bake in cupcake pans for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when warm/cool. Yields 24-30 cupcakes

Steve Got Into MIT: Yeah!

I'm excited because I finally made an "official" decision and put down my MIT deposit last week. If Steve goes to MIT too...I'll have at least one friend next year at school.