Friday Fav's

Another Edition of Friday Fav's:

Friday Fav #1

Have you been to Great Harvest Bread Company?  If not, go there, soon.  They have THE best bread EVER.  I had to run a few errands today, and I happened to be near the Minnetonka store, so I had to stop by and pick up a couple loaves of my favorite bread in.the.entire.world.  So good.

Spinach Feta...it tastes as good as it looks.  Yum!

Friday Fav #2

The Help, (the movie)

(Something happened to the "Add Image"  feature on Blogger and I can't import my picture of the Help Movie poster...sorry)

This is one of my all time favorite books, I loved it.  We read it for book club last year and now it is a major motion picture!  Of course, the movies are never as good as the books, but it is still worth your $10.00.  Well, $25.00 by the time you add in popcorn, m&m's and diet coke.  Or you could just wait until it comes out on Redbox, and save yourself $24.00.  Whichever.

I am off to finish putting out all the fires of the week, (broken garage doors, broken bath tub handles, school clothes/shoes/supplies, football cleats that don't fit, sick dogs, and sick kids).  I know, I have a glamorous life.  Don't envy me.

Utter Deliciousness

This is a great recipe if you:

1) Need a dessert and don't want your house to be a 1000 degrees in the summer (no oven necessary)
2) Love Chocolate
3) Love Coconut
4) Love Chocolate and Coconut
5) Love EASY!

I saw this recipe on my high school BFF's blog a while back, and have hardly stopped thinking about it since.

I modified it a little bit, because that is just how I roll.  I can never just leave well enough alone.  I needed to bring a dessert to an open house we were having for Halle Bands on Tuesday night, and this met all the critieria.  It was a hit!  Apparently these are typically a Christmas time treat, but again, I  like to mix it up a little.  Here you go:

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Balls

Gather your ingredients:

Ingredients:
1 bag (14 oz.) Flaked Coconut
1 can sweetened condense milk
1 lb. Powdered Sugar
1/8 lb. Softened Butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
11 oz. (or more) Chocolate Chips  (I combined Ghiradelli Bittersweet and Hershey's Special Dark)
1 tsp. Oil

1.  Add measured powdered sugar into your mixing bowl and make a well in the middle.  Add the Sweetened Condensed Milk (the best kind of milk in my opinion), the softened butter, the vanilla and the coconut inside the well. Mix until thoroughly combined.

2.  Place bowl in freezer until cold.

3.  When dough is cold, remove from freezer and roll into bite sized balls.  (Size can vary, depending upon how big your bite is).

4.  Place balls on parchment/waxed paper lined cookie sheets and place back in the freezer.

5.  On the top of a double boiler, over simmering (not boiling ) water, add chocolate and oil.  Stir constantly until completely melted.

6.  Remove the coconut balls a few at a time and dip into chocolate.  You can cover them completely, or leave the top open.  I chose to leave the coconut showing on top and then just add a tiny dot of chocolate.

YUM!

Let me know if you try these, and what you think.  Enjoy!!!

The Biggest Loser

Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser was at BlogHer 11 this weekend, leading an exercise class on Saturday morning at 7 am.  I didn't go.  My excuse was that I didn't have any workout clothes with me (true), but in reality, there is no way I would put myself through that.  I had enough on my mind that morning (think: cook-off---live cook-off).  Even though Jillian wasn't there pushing to the max, it apparently was a super intense workout.  I prefer the DVD's so that I can put them on pause while gasping for air.

As far as the cook-off goes, I too, was a loser. It was an incredible experience though.  It was amazing to meet Chef Marco Pierre White and Chef Einav Gefen, and to watch them doing their thing was even better.  I would really like to thank the Knorr company for sending me out to Cali and for the great opportunity.  I mean it is not every day that I go down the escalator at the airport to see a driver holding a sign with my name on it, waiting to lug pick up my suitcases and take me to the hotel. Nor is it very often that I get to watch master chefs live in action instead of on Food Network from the comfort of my couch.  I was also treated to an incredible dinner at Searsucker, a restaurant in San Diego owned by Chef Brian Malarkey (Top Chef finalist).  I L.O.V.E.D. their Spicy Shrimp on Cheesy Bacon Grits.  Yum!

Here are a few shots from the cook-off:

The 8 Finalists!!!

In the hotel kitchen, preparing for the cook off.  Totally nervous under that smile.

On stage, preparing my dish!  I totally relaxed once I got up there and started cooking.

Apparently mid-sentence, being interviewed by Chef Einav Gefen!

Look at all the cameras...ahh the pressure!!

Presenting my dish

I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that I didn't win, but it really was an exceptionally fun experience.  I hope I get more opportunities like this in the future!  So.much.fun!

Fun in the sun

I am here at BlogHer '11.  Excited to go check out the Knorr Kitchen tonight and find out all the details for the cook-off on Saturday. 

You can follow any updates on my twitter page: @headband_girl 

Also, check out the Knorr website here.

I am planning on meeting my big sister tonight for dinner.  She just happens to be nearby in Laguna Beach.  What are the chances?  Woo-hoo!

Let the fun begin!

Bittersweet

I took my son to take his driver’s permit test today. And he passed.


I had mixed emotions when he came walking out with a huge smile on his face, carrying that little yellow piece of paper. I was so happy for him. It was, after all, a big accomplishment, a monumental day in his life. He will probably remember this day for a long time. After sitting through all those long hours in that drivers ed classroom, he finally has something to show for it.

But I was feeling a little bit sad too. Sad because it is just another example of his independence. Next year he will be able to drive on his away. Drive away whenever he feels like it. He will be home less and less. And then in a few years he will be driving away to college. It is bittersweet.

But for him, it is all SWEET!

After he came to a lurching stop in the driveway today, I realized that I will learn the real meaning of patience. And whether or not I have any.  :)