it’s in the air

kdavis Leave a comment

we are three days into the autumn season, and i could not be more ecstatic.  over the years i have observed that i am exponentially happier in the fall and winter months, so you can be sure i welcomed the change in weather with open arms.

along with the arrival of fall comes all the things we love about this season:  pumpkin spice everything, apple pie scented candles, flannel shirts and fleece jackets, the list goes on and on.

speaking of lists, the internet has provided us with some humorous takes on our love of this season.  my personal favorite is buzzfeed’s stereotypical jab at white girls during fall.  you can bet i shamelessly admit to most of these things.  after all, i am a white girl, and i do love fall.

the most recent find, though, so sweetly provided by my friend andrew, is an unabashed exaggeration that depicts our over-obsessive nature with the season.  it’s full of language (be warned) and had me rolling on the floor.  when andrew sent me the link, he said, “it’s like if your thought process was infused with vulgar language.”  it’s uncanny how well he knows me, and it’s even more hilarious to try and picture me saying all those things with a straight face.

so, to my fellow fall-lovers out there, express your love for the season with all your heart, however you want.  there’s a reason we live for this time of year, and for those who don’t get it, buy them a psl next time you’re at starbucks.  you just might make them a believer.

banana cream pie

kdavis 4 Comments

i had some overly ripened bananas lying around the kitchen, and instead of going with banana bread this time, i wanted to try my hand at banana cream pie.  i couldn’t let those nanners go to waste, so i consulted my betty crocker cookbook like every good home cook would and found a recipe right there on page 133.

as i gathered all my ingredients and tools, i began to wonder, just who is this betty crocker that we have come to know and love over the past 90 years?  who is this american icon in our homes?  what is her history?  well, i’m so glad you asked.

as i read through and learned about betty crocker and all her fame, i couldn’t figure out a better way to share it all with you besides providing the link.  it’ll be a quick read and is quite interesting, so i highly encourage you to take a look!  as a self-proclaimed baker, it’s fun to learn about how something as simple as answering cooking questions has become tradition.  quite cool!

read on to find the recipe and all its details.  oh, also, i tried my hand at picture-taking while baking this time.  the shots aren’t terribly exciting, but there’s only so much i can do with these two hands at once!

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greek salad with orzo & black eyed-peas

kdavis Leave a comment

last night i decided i needed to actually make something for my brown bags this week at lunch.  i don’t mind eating out, but it gets old quickly when you have a limited window for it.

orzo

i rummaged through my recipe box, looking particularly for something that i hadn’t yet tried.  a few soups looked tasty, but i need it to be slightly cooler before i get those brewing.  i came upon this recipe for greek salad with orzo and black eyed-peas, clearly ripped out of the pages of an old real simple magazine from years ago.  although i didn’t have mine fashioned in these stylish and hip mason jars, my tupperware containers suited them just fine.  enjoy!

ingredients

3/4 cup orzo

1 (15-oz.) can black-eyed peas, drained & rinsed

1 large tomato, diced

2 Tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

*i could only find italian parsley at disco kroger and it worked just fine

2 Tablespoons red-wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1/4 seedless cucumber, halved lengthwise, cored, & diced (1 cup)

*disco kroger also does not have seedless cucumbers, so a regular cucumber would just have to do

1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, slivered

*i have a strong distaste towards olives, so i left these out

1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon finely chopped oregano

*i found a whole Tablespoon to be way too much – i’d suggest cutting it down to half a Tablespoon

2-3 cups coarsely chopped romaine

1/2 pound feta, crumbled (1 cup)

4 to 8 pepperoncini

directions

cook orzo according to package instructions.  drain in a sieve and rinse under cold water until cool.  drain well.

toss black-eyed peas, tomato, and parsley with vinegar, 1 Tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  marinate, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.

meanwhile, toss together orzo, remaining oil, cucumber, olives, onion, lemon zest and juice, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.

divide black-eyed pea mixture (with juices) among jars and layer orzo salad, romaine, and feta on top.  add 1 or 2 pepperoncini to each jar.

*note:  assembled jars can be chilled up to eight hours and serve four.  enjoy at room temperature with pita chips.

**kelsey’s note:  i assembled my tupperware this morning before work and had it as a salad for lunch.

ladybird grove and mess hall – atlanta, ga

kdavis Leave a comment

last week was the grand opening of the latest spot in old fourth ward, ladybird grove and mess hall, and we just had to be there!  i got in touch with general manager creighton mcmurray to get the deets and was quite delighted when he invited us to come on out for opening night on monday.

ladybird grove and mess hall is tucked nicely into this neighborhood, with kevin rathbun steak to its southeast and the beltline right in between the two.  if it’s your first time visiting this part of town, you might be wary as your gps directs you here, for you feel as though you may be intruding upon a residential area.  fear not, though, for once you get to the end of john wesley dobbs, the big ladybird sign will wave you down.

i arrived earlier than the rest of our group so that i could steal a few precious moments with the staff.  creighton and i had been exchanging e-mails, and i was looking forward to meeting him.  the waitress seated me and brought some water and then creighton joined me at the family style table for a quick introduction.

“so, how does it feel, now that opening day is here?  did you sleep at all?  are you overwhelmed?”

“actually,” creighton responded, “i’m feeling comfortably whelmed.  i got a little bit of shut eye, but things are going great.”  well, if that isn’t great news for a restaurant’s first night, i don’t know what is.

“i know you’re busy, but tell me a little bit about ladybird’s identity, because the web site is quite simple.”

“haha.  yes, our site is a bit vague right now,” he laughs (note that it has since been updated with their menu offerings).  “we want ladybird to be a laid-back place that anyone can enjoy.  we’re a from-scratch kitchen making good food.  we want folks to want to hop in for a burger and beer after walking their dog or going for a run.”

their location really is quite perfect for all of those things.  i can see ladybird quickly becoming a must-try spot in its opening months, especially with its screened-in dining area and roomy patios.  the exposed brick and carshop doors inside keep the space tall and airy, as does the wilderness murals.  the whole atmosphere is something i haven’t experienced really ever, and i was definitely feeling it.

the menu caters to folks of nearly all appetites and price points.  there are starters and small plates and individual meals and platters to share among friends.  there’s so much to try, and you can bet that we did our fair share of tasting.

jamie & me.
nathan!

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this is how we do

kdavis 2 Comments

hardly a dull moment passes by these days, and this past weekend was no exception.  our friend ashley was getting married on sunday at historic smithonia farm, so a getaway to athens was a must!  after grabbing a grande java chip frappuccino from disco starbucks, i hit the open road.  the drive east on 316 was easy and relaxing, and soon enough i found myself in little five points with garth, al, and kari to eat some food and watch some football.

grindhouse killer burgers has a new location here, and it was the perfect spot to gather.  although the game was in rain delay (apparently there was lightning…?), we let our pregaming begin.  i am warning you now that we drank our fill that afternoon, and as a result, there are oodles of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

session, shiner, allagash.
mm, pbr.
CRUSHED IT.
things of varying heights, including salt & pepper shakers.
all the things!

we supplemented our liquid diets that afternoon with plenty of food as well.  i started with an order of french fries topped with bacon and bleu cheese sauce.  ooh, girl, you would think i had died and gone to heaven.  the crinkle fries were the perfect choice for the bacon and bleu cheese, and i am telling you now, if you do not like bleu cheese, these fries are not for you.  i could have gone for a quick swim in that tiny little boat of starchy, salty goodness.

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the game finally started, and all the other dawg fans with us were optimistic as the skies cleared and the players took the field.  it’s just the gamecocks.  surely we will defeat them!  oh wait, we’re losing?  it’s the end of the second quarter and we’re still losing?  those feelings look like this, hopeful and brokenhearted all at the same time.

IMG_20140913_181659

halftime arrived, and we decided to distract ourselves from the looming misery that would become the uga loss to south carolina.  how better to distract ourselves than hopping on tinder!  kari and i took over al and garth’s accounts and got to swiping.  ah, tinder, the epitome of people judging.  my fingers are crossed that we found them a match.  i mean, who wouldn’t be interested in these two handsome fellas?  these gents are single and ready to mingle!

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well, we made it through the game, some how, some way, and headed over to mercy’s.  we know mercy from the redcoat band during our college days at uga, and she is now back in athens for work.  she just moved into her adorable home recently and was hosting a housewarming party.  of course we just had to be there!

first things first, mercy adopted the sweetest little corgi pup honey, who is a lively 14 weeks old.  i saw that little face when we were ushered inside, and i was done.  i think it’s fair to say that half the night we were consumed with her.  i also think it is fair to say that we wore her out!  there’s almost nothing cuter than a pooped pup, especially when it is a corgi.

sarah & honey & garth.

sarah & honey & garth.

the evening was full of laughs as old friends caught up over snacks and drinks.  athens is a place that will always have a piece of my heart, and having been back several times recently, i realize just how much i love that town.  so many memories of my college days, but now new memories to create as we all grow up and tread into adulthood.  they say that time goes by more quickly the older you get, and from just my few years of experience, i agree and am afraid i do not like it at all…

partners in crime.
the sisters! maribel, mercy, & melody.
daniel & garth.

we all slumbered soundly that night and woke sunday morning ready for a new day.  kari was off to do wedding things, so garth, al, and i grabbed breakfast at the five points waffle house.  what better way to begin the late morning/afternoon than with cheese and hashbrowns and waffles and gravy as far as the eye can see?  not much, young lady, not much.

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oh, also, it was terribly cold inside this waffle house, and from what i’ve been told, that’s actually the norm for this location.  well, now we know…

al hungry.
garth.
garth & me.
al cold.
this is the kind of friendship we have.

since we were in little five points, i insisted we hop across milledge to jittery joe’s.  i worked at jitt joe’s for a couple years in college, and it was indescribably fun.  i loved being a barista at school, and if i could make a steady five figures serving coffee to folks throughout the week, you can bet i’d be trading in my laptop for an apron in a heartbeat.  ah, i suppose a girl can dream…

ah, look at the time!  we’ve got a wedding to get to!  we headed back to al’s place and got all spruced up for the big event.  ashley and jonathan met while working together at the wesley foundation on campus, and out of respect for the day and the event, they wanted a dry reception.  well, that certainly doesn’t mean we can’t still party.  1, 2, 3…#soberfun!

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the ceremony was beautiful and big; there were over 200 guests!  the groom and his men were very humble up there, and the bride and her ladies were just gorgeous.  this wedding was my fourth this year, but i never cease to be amazed at just how much love there is at an event such as this one.  it makes my heart want to burst with joy.  ashley and jonathan clearly adore each other, and that feeling is something you cannot hide.

kari, me, ashley, & mercy.

kari, me, ashley, & mercy.

after appetizer hour, we headed back inside for dinner.  mama’s boy, a local athens institution nearly, was catering the event, just as they had for sam and nathan’s wedding back in july.  after that meal a couple of months ago, we were stoked to have some of that good ole’ southern cookin’.  fried chicken and mac’n’cheese and homemade biscuits, oh my!

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folks wrapped up their meals, and since we had some time before the dance hour began, we decided to have a little photo shoot.  ladies first!

mercy & me.
xo, by beyonce, almost…
mercy, kari, & me.
mercy, me, & kari.

and now, i give you, the boys:  al and daniel.

we danced into the evening, tried to catch the bouquet and garter, ate some unforgettable cake, and sent the newlyweds off in style with grade a sparklers.  it was a delightful evening that reminded me how sweet and precious our time is here.  love those closest to you with all your heart and let them love you in return.

death from above

kdavis 2 Comments

as a software consultant, i have met many people, most of whom i like.  one of those folks is mark polino, a certified microsoft mvp.  mark’s success as a consultant has catapulted him into an exclusive realm of fame, a place to where only the most nerdy and dedicated are privy.  he has his own fan base for goodness sakes!

after many years of successful implementations, mark began to dip his toes into fictional writing with his dynamics gp short stories.  mark and i were coworkers at the time, and being a bit of a bookworm myself, he often asked me to read over his writing to critique and edit the work.  it was fun to see the quirky applications of accounting software in marginally realistic settings; i soon saw he had a way with words and with capturing a reader’s attention and imagination.

so, many short stories and consulting books later, mark has finally published his first, full-length fictional novel death from above.  we find ourselves on a bit of a sci-fi mystery with investigator jennifer lynch who is desperately searching for an answer to explain planes that are mysteriously dropping from the sky.  on her journey, jennifer joins forces with a peculiar personality in lizard wong and inquisitive expert max gutierrez.  is jennifer able to follow the clues and save thousands of more lives?  or does the mayan god q’uq’umatz continue to have his way?  i suppose you’ll have to read it for your self to see!

mark was kind to mail me a signed copy a couple of weeks ago, and you can bet that thing is propped up in my cube at work for everyone to see.  i almost feel like a proud parent!

mark – thank you for a humorous tale of mystery and creativity.  i cannot wait to see what you dream up next!

death from above is available in paperback on amazon.  you can also purchase the ebook version on your kindle, nook, or kobo.

sixteen tracks

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cd

folks, what you are seeing here is a rare form of music:  a compact disc!  a cd!  yes, i do still browse the racks at best buy to see what new music is hitting the shelves, and that’s where i found myself last night.  i was on the search for the backstreet boys’ june 2013 studio release in a world like this.  clark and i had seen the video for the single “show ’em (what you’re made of)” on vh1 or mtv the other morning, and i about flipped.  how did i not know they had made new music?!  but alas, the album is only available for purchase online…you should know that i’ll be placing an order for my copy soon.

well, since i had no luck with the backstreet boys, i roamed the cd’s for the 1975.  i fell in love with their first single “chocolate” and am definitely digging “girls,”, their latest hit to pop up on the radio waves.  the manchester natives dropped their self-titled album last fall after producing a couple of ep’s.  the four-man band has toured extensively over the past couple of years to build hype and support for the group’s alternative and stripped down approach, and they’re performing all over europe, canada, the states, and australia before the year is done.  there’s a good chance i’ll be going to their house of blues performance in boston in december with my buddy vinh.  eek!

i’ve listened to the cd almost the whole way through, and i’m enjoying every bit of it.  it’s upbeat without being overly energetic; a good mix of cruising and jamming songs.  i appreciate the quick and funky introduction of “the 1975” and transition in “an encounter.”  i don’t know which track i like most, but right now i might say “chocolate” is still my favorite because of their higher-pitched voices and the inflections from their accents.  it didn’t get replayed on the radio enough if you ask me.

these guys are grungy and hip, and i love each ounce of it.  i realized it’s the perfect summer album just as summertime is drawing to a close.  hm, i suppose i can listen to it as fall comes around the corner.

desta ethiopian kitchen – atlanta, ga

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DSCF1304[1]

ah, at last, we dine on ethiopian cuisine for nrw!  such an exciting week, especially since my younger brother clark just moved in with me and it was his first ever nrw!!!  welcome to the atl, bro!

we’ve been talking about it for months, and last week we finally arrived at desta ethiopian kitchen off of briarcliff and clairmont.  desta was kenneth’s personal recommendation, which is good enough for me.  i’m going to spoil things for you right now and say that desta might be in my top ten for new restaurants.  what a proclamation to make!  read on to find out just why we left here so happy.

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brian, a bride, and a moh

kdavis Leave a comment

yesterday was so fun-filled and enjoyable that i just need to tell you all about it!  i first started off the lovely morning with my cousin brian.  he was in town from san francisco this weekend for kyle’s bachelor party, and in an effort to not crash the events, he and i met up for an early breakfast before their festivities geared up for the day.  i picked him up from his rented loft in downtown atlanta, and then we zoomed off towards memorial.  as we pulled up to ria’s bluebird café, we sadly realized that it wasn’t open.

“but the web site said they were open beginning at eight o’clock saturday mornings!?”

i know, i know.  it’s heartbreaking!  for this little place looked quite original and quirky, just what we were craving.  well, maybe next time?  maybe…

brian quickly hopped on foursquare and read aloud some other recommendations.  “this place highland bakery has an even higher score than ria’s.”

“we can definitely go there!” i assured him.  “it should just be right down the road.”

even though it was quite early in the day, there were plenty of folks already at their tables on the sidewalk.  the sun was beginning to peek up over the horizon with its warm rays, so we opted to eat inside instead.  it was a fine choice to dine indoors, for we were perfectly placed to visit and enjoy the atmosphere.

brian is one of the coolest people i know but is someone with whom i never get to spend enough time.  considering he spent his childhood in san pedro, moved to new york for a few years, and is now in northern california, you can see how it would be hard to get together.  thanks to more frequent family events and reunions, though, we’ve been pretty good about seeing each other at least once a year.  ah, he’s just so cool that it still isn’t enough!

our genial waitress brought the coffees and between sips, brian and i caught up on anything and everything.  his job at apple is going well, he loves his new apartment, and he is stoked for the wedding in october.  he’s one of the groomsmen for kyle, and you can bet he will be tearing up the dance floor at the reception.  brian definitely has a wild side, and we’ll see just how far it is unleashed next month.

per foursquare’s recommendation, brian ordered the fried chicken benedict.  he had mentioned he didn’t want anything too heavy, but i think this plate weighed a good bit.  those little fried tenders were smothered in a jalapeno cheddar cheese sauce that looked unreal.  brian said the dish certainly lived up to its hype.

brian!

brian!

i really didn’t know what i was in the mood to eat that morning, but the sweet potato pancake caught my eye, and i figured that it would be quite delicious with my café au lait.  first, the café au lait was very well made.  it didn’t need any sugar or cream, and that, in my opinion, means you’ve got a great mug of coffee in your thirsty little hands.  the pancake was dense and sweet and even more delicious with the caramelized brown sugar butter; and the side of bacon was thick and crispy.  sometimes i like chewy bacon, but this crispy serving of pig was a great choice.

our time together was coming to a close, as i had to meet up with some peeps around ten for an alumni event.  it had been so wonderful to catch up with brian, and it makes  my heart ache that i only get to see him every now and then.  i suppose i’ll just have to make it out to san fran sometime soon.  challenge accepted!

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late-night brinner

kdavis Leave a comment

as they almost always say, those short weeks seem so long, and i’d say these past four days were no exception.  i was glad when happy hour finally rolled around…at seven o’clock this evening.  it was about time!  after a modelo and some laughs with the coworkers, i headed home to the condo.  although the monthly pizza friday at the office was delicious, it was time for some dinner.  but tonight?  tonight i was craving breakfast for dinner, alas, brinner!

what’s the key to a good brinner?  including everything you love in it.  i mean, it’s breakfast for dinner for goodness sakes.  eat whatever you want!  although pancakes are probably one of my favorite breakfast dishes, it’s not fun to eat those all by yourself.  so tonight i kept it simple with some cheesy eggs (oh, yes), sausage, and an english muffin.  shall we?  yes, let’s!

our cast of characters.

our cast of characters.

my kitchen is quite tiny, so i had to shuffle some of the appliances around to make space for everything.  it doesn’t help that there are only four plugs, three of which are regularly occupied by the refrigerator, keurig, and microwave.

look at all that counter space!

look at all that counter space!

first things first, gotta get that english muffin all toasty.  i have had this toaster oven for, hm, about seven years now.  it was passed down to me when my old roommate shanna moved out of our dorm at uga, and it is just wonderful.  i’m glad i’ve kept it ever since.  doesn’t that little fella look perfectly toasted?  i agree.

 

while the muffin was toasting to golden perfection, i whipped up those eggs.  i love to make scrambled eggs when i’m cooking them, but when i go out i always want them over-easy so that i can get that runny yolk all over the plate.  mm, yesssss.

eggs

with the ding of the toaster oven, it was time to top the english muffin.  now, some days i like it with peanut butter.  other days i like it with just butter.  but most days i like it with cream cheese and preserves or jam.  today was one of those days.  if you have never tried this combination, i suggest you do, right now.  get up out of bed and make yourself some brinner!

breakfast for dinner hit the spot tonight.  perhaps it was even a little bit better because i was drinking my milk out of a purple wine glass?  perhaps…

plate