8/26/2011 0 Comments A Bubbly ChildhoodA couple of hours ago, I traveled back in time to 10 years ago. In this memory, I am sitting at the small dining table in my friend's kitchen, waiting for the rest of us to join with the paper cups and utensils. The initial hyper-ness of us kids had just died down as it was the dinner time portion of our sleepover, and the dark blanket of night had just draped itself over our quiet neighborhood. I remember how large my greasy slice of cheese pizza was that sat in front of me on my blindingly white paper plate, waiting impatiently for me with its burnt surface spots and thick flabby cheese to take in its rich fatty texture (you can probably tell by now that I don't like greasy delivery pizza).
But what I especially remember (and treasure) from that night is the large bottle of root beer that sat at my right, trying its very best to contain the burst of its bubbly, welcoming personality I simply could and therefore chose not to ignore. It was the night I had my first sip of that fizzing potion, and I can still feel the way it took over my senses and even my heart, as I have since then carried that spark of liveliness of that memory with me all the way to today. As super duper cheesy as that sounds, it's true. :) In the routines of adulthood I live in today, the places I go and people I see almost never mention things in the way of the tangy-sweet, caramel toned beverage, in stark contrast to my world 10 years ago. This is why I declare myself as someone whose ideal world includes a collective devotion to all things root beer (particularly root beer floats)--Bookstores entirely dedicated to books about the craft and appreciation of root beer, root beer float stands you may see appearing magically before you on the street every five seconds, and other signs showing that the bubbliness of life has not died down just yet. The memory of my first sip of root beer was brought to life as I speedily yet lovingly crafted root beer floats for myself and my brother earlier today. Even on this fine sunny day, I felt like the air was slightly begging for some extra spark. What's your spark, if it's not the refreshingly sweet root beer/root beer float? :) ~~MC
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Do you feel like immersing yourself in a world where everything is British? Do you want to feel this way when you walk into a room, or when you take your first bite of a dessert that seems as enchanting as a fairy tale?
If I tell you that I was enchanted a couple of nights ago by a bowl of slightly-steaming bread pudding generously drizzled with a hot flow of the warm yellow hue of custard, you'd probably guess that I'd rather be in a British world when I'm eating something...Not that I wouldn't like to be surrounded by all things British as well, but there's nothing like entertaining your taste buds with the soft, deliciously mushy texture of the sweet bread that's subtly hiding some juicy raisins the way precious jewels are hidden, as the grand finale can come to your taste buds by the form of an extreme rush of sweetness of the custard, all putting you in a state to think that everything in the world should be just as sweet. When I took that first bite of the bread pudding, I forgot where I was. I could almost hear the voices of people who were sitting around me, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Those sounds just seemed so distant, so far, as if I traveled to a land far far away...Now I have the strong urge to speak in a British accent as I talk of a fairy tale about an average girl who falls in love with a bread pudding and they end up marrying and living happily ever after, in this 'far away land'...But I won't, to save my sanity just a bit. I would post a picture of the extraordinary mini volcano of deliciousness, but I'd rather have you imagine this come-true fairy tale yourself, using your lively taste imaginations and foodie-magic lodged somewhere inside you. ;) Have a sweet, custard-filled day today, and enjoy the sunshine of bread pudding (or just sunshine if that's what you also like...)! ~~MC 8/11/2011 1 Comment Heart Stolen by a CupcakeIt feels almost like an eternity since I last wrote a MC blog post, even though it really has been a few days...Either way, it feels great to be back! :)
I must begin by declaring something that will strike you as slightly over dramatic, yet nonetheless true, within every word: My heart has been stolen...by a cupcake (with some green-lemon loose tea washing it down with its herbal deliciousness and warmth). I walk into the Cupcake Royale shop that sits like a mini castle ten minutes near my house...and I say 'mini castle' not only because of how much I adore the place, but also because it literally reminds me of a castle--the building used to be an IHOP, until the pancakes were scooted out of the now-white abode and replaced by floating puffy clouds of iced, decorated heaven. After gazing at what were various definitions of 'the perfect cupcake,' all delicately crafted and sitting quietly behind the glass begging to be enjoyed by someone who's just walked into a sparkling aura difficult to resist, I chose the Lavender Cupcake...it was the cupcake that instantly wooed me. (Yes, I just once again referred to a cupcake as if it were the subject of a passionate love story.) One bite of that cupcake (okay, obviously no longer a passionate love story...), and I was whisked away to a place filled with more sparkles and enchantment that made me question whether I had ever tasted a true cupcake in the past. The frosting exhibited a light purple that glowed underneath the casual ensemble of sprinkles of the same color; and, looking at the cupcake, you would think that the slightly hardened texture means the frosting will break your teeth within contact, but it actually melts like a traditionally made meringue you can't get enough of. What especially surprised me was that the actual cake part of this yummy treat showed a strong resemblance to angel food cake, by its creamy-white hue as well as the thick yet fluffy texture that takes you even further into this cupcake fantasy! And as I take in the perfectly sculpted ensemble, I tell myself in the surest tone that this is the most delicious cupcake (or is it even a cupcake anymore? I'd rather call it an edible cloud of a masterpiece) I've ever tasted. http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150283686734450&set=a.10150278886384450.347832.815939449&&theater (I couldn't post the photo here for some reason, so here is the link) So if you ever find yourself in the near-death situation where you need a cupcake but have trouble figuring out where is the best place to get one, don't even hesitate to take yourself on an enchanting vacation at the nearest Cupcake Royale. :) ~~MC 8/5/2011 2 Comments Giant Flowery Scone I might have subtly mentioned this in several previous Foods for Fantasizing posts, but this time I must say it straight out: There's something extremely comforting about baking, something about the smell of freshly-baked goods that have come straight out of the depths of the oven and into the gooey center of your heart. ;)
During the times I don't feel at my best, the only thing I actually feel like doing is baking...And so today I grabbed an adorably-packed scone baking mix that my mother recently bought from World Market, ripped open the bag (not really 'ripped'...I used scissors) to allow the spicy-sweet aroma to fill the atmosphere around me, and commenced to performing the most comfort and warmth-inducing task of the history of mankind...Baking. Baking, baking baking baking, I cannot say that word enough! I took the steaming set of puffy lemon ginger scones out of the oven literally 10 minutes ago, and yet the smell still lingers all around the house like the perfume every person wants. If you were standing in my kitchen peering over the little piece of heaven, you could see that these baked sweets have traveled out of the bag and straight into a cakey goodness that almost seduces you...Even though I feel strange calling it "these baked sweets" when it really looks like a giant mass of...one baked sweet. Come to think of it, it actually looks like a giant, slightly-warped flower, though it is still a lovely flower. :) What foods comfort you? The obvious answer may be sweets or baked goods such as this ginormous flowery scone, but it can really be just any food whose very first scent or taste in the mouth causes you to second guess any rough times you may have encountered during the day, and instead prompt you to take in the moment and relax towards a new beginning you will enjoy. So take a baking mix of something you yearn to create, and craft your own sense of comfort! ~~MC 8/3/2011 0 Comments 'Get Happy.'Earthy, organic rooibos gets an infusion of fresh, fruity lemon and lush peach flavors in this satisfying blend. Enjoy it hot or splashed over ice.
That is what I read on the brightly hued container of what I am now gleefully sipping in my London tourist-y mug: a caffeine-free tea called 'get happy,' as only from World Market. There is a rich taste that I am taking in right now as I hold my warm, comforting beverage; a subtle punch of the fruity tone entertains my taste buds, surrounded by the quiet notes of herb in the background the way that the deep blues of a night sky background hug the noticeable figures pictured in the center of a glistening oil painting. I recommend this tea not because it will make you think of lovely oil paintings that calm you just as much (or maybe that's just me...), and not because just looking at the tea container covered with sweet and optimistically written descriptions will lift your spirits in the effortless way that a breeze lifts a leaf from the ground...Perhaps I recommend the tea because each and every sip of this warm potion of serenity gives you an additional reason to sit back, relax, and 'get happy.' :) ~~MC P.S. Did you know that rooibos is pronounced 'ROY-boss'? I had always pronounced it as 'ROY-boos' but I guess I was wrong! |
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