update

contact has been made.

with tyler that is.

because of course we are on a first name basis. ..

Here's the long and short of it. I dreamt of him. Dreamt that we were getting busy.. Not THAT busy, ok??? Just like FUn busy.. and he was MY boyfriend. Well. Here's where it gets funny. ... and unfortunately I wake up.

Tyler tells me _ I have bad breath.

So, being a Twitter follower of him,

I relay this dream to him.

The following occurred:

Enjoy it, my friends.

I did.

and will for many years to come.

@TylerFlorence had a dream bout you last week... you told me i had bad breath when we kissed.. just hateful tyler.. hateful.. ;)

about 20 hours ago via web

RT @liliesoffield i had a dream bout you last week... you told me i had bad breath when we kissed.. just hateful tyler.. hateful..<-- Ha Ha

about 20 hours ago via web

@liliesoffield <-----My Puttanesca sauce has a lot of garlic!!!!!about 20 hours ago via web in reply to liliesoffield

bacon makes everything right.

i'm not one of those pansies who is afraid of risotto... i'll whip up a batch any night of the week. this especially _though.... caught my attention.. and i think it deserves some Big Heart, Little Heart attention.

you like?

Apple-wood-smoked bacon and farm-fresh egg risotto

Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Note: Adapted from a recipe by chef Jamie West of Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Arborio rice can be found at well-stocked supermarkets, cooking stores and Italian markets. Apple-wood-smoked bacon can be found at most well-stocked markets.

6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 onion, chopped

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 cups arborio rice

1 teaspoon minced garlic

5 strips bacon, preferably apple-wood-smoked, cut into 1/4 -inch dice

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/4 cup chopped chives

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 egg yolks

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low to keep the broth warm.

2. Meanwhile, in a 4-quart heavy pot over medium heat, cook the onion in the butter until softened, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice, garlic and bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until the bacon begins to brown, about 3 minutes.

3. Stir in one-half cup warm broth and continue to cook the rice at a simmer until the broth is absorbed, stirring frequently. Continue to add the broth, one-half cup at a time, stirring constantly until each addition is absorbed before adding the next, until the rice is creamy-looking but still slightly chewy, 18 to 20 minutes (you should have leftover broth).

4. Stir in the cheese and chives, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Immediately divide the risotto among 4 warmed plates, and make an indentation in each mound of risotto for a yolk. Place a yolk in the center of each mound and serve immediately.

no bounds on sisterly love

you can't even fathom how much i love you and wish that you were ALWAYS by my side.

[like on Monday night.]

Can we arrange that?

with all my heart, miss you.

I love you even more than before Monday. How is that possible?!?
-alli

New Jersey in Michigan

Reunited and ... . it tastes SOOOoooo goood.


this weekend this New Jersey gal hung in Michigan, lovin' and cookin' with her Big Sister.
Nothing could be better than that.
absolutely nothing.

period.

Two spot.on recipes. .. . from our Valentine's weekend. Potato gnocchi from Saturday and zeppoles for the day of LOooooove, on Sunday.

My flight tonight was canceled, so more may be on the way.. . these two should give you something mouth watering to nash on while you wait..

lobster lovin'

What is it about that perfectly sweet smell of lobster?

I didn't know i missed it until the fragrance hit me once again today.

these lobster cakes were a cinch to whip up! you're dealing with such a fancy ingredient _ and pricey one at that. which is why i needed to cut the recipe in half/// and yet it was in and out of the kitchen and straight to my dining room table with a gourmet dish. i threw some fresh tomatoes on the side. who doesn't love ripe tomatoes with a little virgin olive oil and salt and pepper? Backyard Farms from New England puts out a cute little package of "summertime fresh tomatoes" to toss on the side of any dish you make throughout the year. Easy to pick up from Kings or your local market. Back to the lobster cakes now.. . Here are the snapshots.

read it and weep lobster tears.

read more @ the Last Bite

big sister know it all

how did you know i was going to fall asleep before whipping up a quick batch of those lobster cakes tonight? I was set to have cooked AND eaten the delectables before the first hour of your "extended due date" but alas... . i laid down in my bed this afternoon. Haven't been able to do that in .. .well can't even recall. Now my dinner, consists of a leftover ham sloppy joe from lunch. [Benefits of being on the Professional Development Committee - perks of today's lunch meeting] There are things you just miss about good ole' New Jersey, huh? Oh the Sloppy Joe.. . It deserves an ode.

On that note _ Hickory Tree Delicatessen is in transition of sorts. The bros who were a big part of it are now gone.. and opening their own shop.. Waitttt .. wait for it.. down the street from me. You know what this means???? Breakfast. Lunch.. Then dinner on the way home. By the time, you see me next I may be two hundred pounds. That's a hundred pounds of sloppy joe/taylor ham, egg and cheese goodness all over my body.

Dessert for Dinner

Here are my first thoughts as this long awaited dessert became tonight's dinner.

//the bottom layer _which was originally the top so gently crisp

//the top - well, just look _OHhh, creamy (that would be where the name originates 'pudding cake')

//perfectly sweet _ and refreshing

Challenge completed. Dessert devoured.

On to the next.

This recipe is getting tagged for future use.

Again and again.

Seconds and thirds, please.

while we're waiting...

the delayed debut is in the oven... maybe five, ten more minutes.. according to the recipe i'm lookin for a "light golden color" sooo. we wait. in the meantime, i knew this would be enjoyed by a few.. especially you Allison. Count me in on Ina's fan list, but how hysterically spot on is this one_

At what point, is someone going to break the news to Ina that her husband belongs with all her gay friends and NOT her??? All the kissing at the episodes' closings will not going to change the way his gate swings.

seriously.

i came home today in between between errands

to find a package on my front stoop.

who doesn't love that?

nothing like a surprise with goodies inside. i'll just take a box with my name on the outside_ just to know someone's been thinkin' bout me.. but a box WITH special things for ME inside?!?!? make my day, why don't you?!!!

part of the reason _ that i am delayed on my Tyler's challenge is i'm not properly equipped as my fancy pants sis who has a stock filled kitchen of new fangled utensils and tools.

i'm working with two frying pans and one super sweet Le Creuset soup pot. Why, it was just the other day I stumbled upon a cheese knife in my drawer and was so happily surprised, i cried out loud.

Nevertheless, as i was explaining my neediness to my sister, she as always, answered my call. Every real tool of sorts, required for the first overdue "challenge" except the ingredients, were inside the box upon my stoop this afternoon.

Could I have a better sister? Seriously? seriously.

Tyler can Stir my pot

by Allison

Heck, he could even burn my pot - I wouldn't care. As long as he'd scrub it afterward, shirtless.


The FIRST (but not last) Tyler challenge
Baked Lime Pudding
page 203



Really yummy dessert, Tyler. Nice work. Totally light. Airy - almost went down like it didn't have any calories. Oops. Nice diet blooper - or wait, a great reward for being good on my diet all week.

Unbaked ::





Finished product ::

not the greatest final photo, but there were kids around waiting to eat this as I flipped it out, and they were not going to be patient for food styling any longer

Stirrin' the Sisterly Pot

Tyler and I were talking today, Tyler Florence that is... just watch the conversation below. I bet you can tell just what happened_ by the look of surprise on my face. ..

us _ just smiling together. Aren't we cute???!?!

Here's where he pops the question... .NO!!!>! He's married, silly!!!?? This is where he asked if I would like to test out his latest cookbook with my talented and hot sister.. Yes, He called you HOT!! {tyler deserves a capital H _ when referred to in pronoun form}.

Tyler, being the smart and captivating man that he is, knew that his work of art, Stirring the Pot now resides in both sister's residences, so why not a cook_off of sorts?? We both try the same recipe, snap shots of it and just bask in Tyler's glow.. Sound good? Are you up to the challenge, Big Sis? Go easy on me. Your tools and talent are far beyond me. So choose an easy one first.

Page number and due date?

Go!

over and over .. .the rhine

have listened to snow angel about five times today.. .