ode to marie callender

dear marie callender,

you look like a nice lady and all so i'm sure you won't be pleased when i tell you of a family experience that we had at one of your restaurant's just last night.

the family was hungry and you looked like a good option. i mean, who could resist a warm slice of pumpkin pie? the host led us to the table and we proceeded to crack jokes and order our meal at the same time. i ordered chicken fingers, dad ordered the frisco burger, and mom ordered some nasty disgrace of a chicken pot pie.

the food comes out quick and as dad is about to take a bite of the burger i yell, "DAD! The burger is raw!" dad takes a look, RAW, feels the meat...COLD. looks under the bun soaked in blood, RAW MEAT. the waitress comes around acting all concerned and decides to bring dad another burger.

she brings out the burger and in a fake tone says, "enjoy your meal." dad looks at the burger....they used the exact same blood-soaked bun with raw meat still attached. oh no they didn't. dad uses his famous line, "give me your manager."

thanks for the free dessert and manager discount marie, but....couldn't you have taken care of our entire bill?

i'm sorry to inform you that we will never eat there again. we just can't risk it. i don't want to know what they would to our food if they recognized us again. rest assured, i will order your pumpkin pie though. delish.

thanks.

kneader's carmel syrup

1 c. Brown sugar
1 c. Cream
1 c. Light Karo Syrup

Blend together and heat on stovetop until sugar is smooth. Serve warm.

pool day

nothin' like the pool on a hot summer's day...

mi piace restaurant

ate at a great italian restaurant in one of my favorite cities, pasadena this past weekend. devoured a delicious butternut squash ravioli dish with a brown butter sauce, and finished the meal off with a few desserts that i shared with the siblings. oh, grandmama didn't want us to forget the experience so she bought us all mi piace ("i like it") shirts. priceless.

paradise cafe

lately i have been wanting to have a chocolate chip cookie from paradise cafe, but because of the sparse locations of this cafe, it's difficult to make that happen. i just recently ate a mrs. fields cookie and i just about died because it was so good. the highlight of my trips to this bakery and cafe are the cookies. the many different types of cookies. from oatmeal to chocolate chip, you name it...they are the best cookies i have ever eaten. i have been wanting to find the recipe to their chocolate chip cookie, but usually never could find it. then one day, i found it. i don't know how, but i did. i haven't tried out the recipe to see if it works or is anything like the cookie yet.

Paradise Bakery and Cafe Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

preheat oven to 375* . cream together butter and sugar. beat in eggs and vanilla. in a seperate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. gradually beat into butter/sugar mixture. add chocolate chips and stir in. spoon and drop onto ungreased cookie sheet. bake 9 minutes.