Battle of the Bakers

One winters eve [it's not officially spring yet] my family gathered around the dinner table to partake in some delicious chicken. It was tasty. However, that is not the end of my tale this evening. After a succulent meal was devoured we were called upon to witness a foodie battle between my brother Bryan and my friend Lauren. The challenge? Who makes the best Cinnamon Rolls?

A little bio on each will help with the readers discernment of the situation:

Full Name: Lauren ***** [like i'd list that on a blog]
Qualifications: A degree in pastry chef-ness from Johnson and Wales. She now
works at a prolific bakery in Georgetown as the assistant pastry chef.
Hobbies: She likes to read and craft and drink coffee. Basically your essential artsy hipster.
History: She made a cake once for me and once for my mom.

Full Name: Bryan ******
Qualifications: Top baker at Great Harvest Bread Bakery. He works the
ovens and makes scones [and various other tasty treats].
Hobbies: I think he plays video games all the time. He also writes excellently.
History: He has made us cinnamon rolls before, and they were freaking amazing.

Before we tasted the contestants offerings, Bryan worked on his cinnamon rolls. Thus we were offered a time of light chatting and socializing before the big moment.

Those moments in which Bryan continued to bake were some of the longest minutes that I have ever experienced in my life [except for that movie the notebook. blech. too long]. I knew that glorious sweet bread and cinnamon rolled into one and topped with cream cheese frosting were headed my way. But I still had to wait. Bryan included a beautifully braided creation into the mix as well. He had extra dough left over, so this was whipped up in a matter of minutes.

Finally the moment of truth arrived.

The happiness that abounded over the baked delights was enough to make the sourest of people tear up. Indeed, not only were cinnamon rolls consumed, but the question of whether they were cinnamon rolls or cinnamon buns arose to the consternation of many. I personally just wanted to shove these pastries down my throat. It didn't matter what they were called. The Battle of the Bakers was a success.

No one left with any wounds [physical or emotional... i think], and everyones stomaches thanked them for the treats. Well, at first our stomaches thanked us. After a while I did feel like I was pregnant with twins I ate so much. At least I was eating for three!

It was a joke.

Camaraderie reigned supreme in the household that evening as Bryan extended the sweet loaf of friendship [similar to the Olive Leaf but about twenty-seven times better].

Flashback Fridays - The Puppy Edition

I love puppies. I also love dogs. That's like saying that I love small children, but adults? Eh.

Anyways. In honor of Flashback Fridays I would like to share some pictures of my favorite dog with you. When we purchased Orly from the SPCA she was a wee little thing. She used to fall asleep at night when we watched movies in the family room. Just for fun we would pick her sleepy self up and set her four legs on the ground. For a moment she would be okay, then she would collapse. Is that cruel? More funny and super super cute than cruel [i think].

Orly was really just the cutest puppy. I can never remember what she is a mix of, but she kind of looks like a dingo. Below is a picture of a dingo. After that is a picture of Orly from last week. Resemblance? I think yes!

Except her ears flop more than a dingos.

Orly ruled the roost for about three years. She replaced my sister when she left for college [as all children should be replaced]. It was a fitting change as Orly is incredibly noble and likable, very much like my sister. We missed Lauren, but it was a good trade [let's be honest, it was fantastic]. We all wanted a dog growing up, and our first [save for Chico who was a crazed maniac and who promptly returned to the SPCA after two days] was wonderful. She was everything dog is supposed to be. Loyal yet wild. Cute yet regal. Fiesty yet calm. Like I said, everything a dog should be.

Then my dad picked out this dog to replace me when I went to college.

Seriously?

Vintage Edit Button

I have recently procured a MacBook Pro. And by procured I mean purchased. And by purchased I mean that my sister had to pull out her checkbook [yes, they still exist] to write an old fashioned check as my bank thought I was some felon with the intent of spending more than usual on an item that I would't normally purchase. My bank is a bright one, that's for sure.

I think this is the first time that I have known complete and pure love by an earthly object.

Just kidding. 

I'm not really.

I also decided to acquire Aperture 3, a photo editing program. Let me tell you. If I wasn't in love with my Mac yet, then Aperture put me quickly on that path. I wanted to share with you a few of the photos that I have messed around with on the program.

Did you even know that there is a vintage key? You press it and your picture looks instantly vintage. Brilliant for those hipsters out there who want all their photos to look like they are from the 50's. 

You have probably seen this one before here.

As well as this one.

But I know for a fact that you have never seen any of these [unless you've been creeping in my house and going through my computer. why would you do that?] !

Thoughts? Concerns? Questions? Cake? 

Mmmm... cake. This weekend I plan on making a Toasted Marshmellow Cake. Recipe found here. This woman's blog is heaven. I want to eat everything that she posts. Really quite brilliant.

Flashback Friday - The Tuesday Edition

I realize that it is indeed Tuesday. Not Friday.

However, I totally blanked this past Friday when it came to posting pictures of yesteryear. I was so caught up in what had happened the week before, that my mind didn't even gravitate towards the past. Let us not dwell on insignificant details, however. Instead let us view pictures of those near and dear to me who are much older now.

This is the little brother in 2005. That means that he was thirteen... I think. My math is horrendous. This was the summer [as referenced in my last Flashback Friday] that we lived at the pool, thus his streak of blond and unusually tanned skin.

Bryan just graduated from the community college this past December at the ripe old age of eighteen. I am so proud of him for that wonderful accomplishment. Now he is applying to four year schools so he can finish up his degree. He is quite the writer, and while I would never read anything that he writes [not totally true, but mostly true. i'm not into horror novels or psychological thrillers], he really is very talented. He weaves words together in a way that my mind will never quite grasp.

Quite the difference, eh?

This next picture is of my younger sister Meredith and my next door neighbor Meredith. We do the same name thing just to keep it confusing. My sister must have been around nine when this was taken. The other Meredith was probably eleven or twelve [wow, i really can't figure this out in my head. seriously, what is my deal?]. They both look super young because they were [simple].

Here is my little sister today [the picture is actually from August, but who's really counting]. She is going to be sixteen this year. That involves a drivers permit, 11th grade in the fall, varsity lacrosse and just looking older. I am not ready for this!

Lastly we have the beautiful and talented other Meredith. This Meredith graduates highschool in May and has applied to ivy league schools because she is incredibly bright and intelligent. She is also an incredibly talented actress and will be in 'Our Town' this spring playing one of the lead roles. I'd like to just go ahead and say that I taught her everything she knows [totally false, but i feel like i should be in the credits somewhere for her life accomplishments]. I am always impressed by this young lady and her talents.

The Amish Way of Life

Nothing says "I am Amish" more than pretzel dogs and donuts.

I know that may seem like a ridiculous statement, because honestly what do you think of when someone throws out the word "Amish"? Does your image involve Harrison Ford in that one movie where he pretends to be a part of the Amish community in order to hide out from some bad guys [keep in mind that i have never ever seen this particular movie. don't judge]? Does your mind's eye show buggies and candles due to lack of electricity?

Those things could be right I suppose. But really you should be seeing donuts and pretzel dogs. And if you somehow can't picture that, then you need to come visit me so I can introduce you to this needed experience. Your life isn't fulfilled yet. I promise you that I am not layering on the gravitas of this situation. It is all very true.

Marieke was not a full fledged believer before her visit to dear old Maryland. Let me tell you, she became the strongest of devotees after she witnessed and savored for herself the magic that is Amish food [kind of Amish food? i can't really believe that this is what they eat on a regular basis]. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is the Amish man who made our donuts.

And here, to essentially make your mouth water, is a picture of the rich selection that the Amish offer to those looking for satisfaction in the donut area of their life.

If you ever go to the Amish Market [which I highly recommend you do. nay, i implore you to experience this wonderland of delight] please purchase a donut. Also, please purchase and soon after consume a pretzel dog. I literally dreamt about these when I lived in another land. My friends could not understand the magnitude of my daydreams. These food items are magnificent.

I am so glad that another wonderful and dear person in my life was able to experience fully the delectable meal. She has been changed forever the better.

If that face doesn't sell it, than I don't know what will. 

Yes, We're going to a Party Party

Odd, people keep having birthdays. It just keeps happening. Honestly, what is the deal? You would think it would stop after a while. Anyways, I digress. It was April's birthday, and her second birthday consisted of meandering down [or is it up? i get so confused with baltimore and washington, dc] to Baltimore so we could go to "some hip establishment."

But first we stopped at Nacho Mama's where the rules are crazy and the food is delicious! I don't even know who Mr. Jim is! And if I see him, I am definitely not checking his pulse.

The birthday girl was forced to sit in a baby's seat for the duration of our ride to Howl at the Moon. Serves her right for having a birthday. And being little. And listening to us even though it was a ridiculous suggestion.

Oh. Wait. I forgot to mention that Marieke was visiting! Santo Monos. How could I forget that? Just kidding. I didn't forget. I was trying to keep you in suspense. Which, in retrospect, is ridiculous because you weren't told that anyone was going to visit me. Maybe I should start keeping people informed of life activities such as those so I can cause suspense in many a heart.

I digress.

So, Marieke is about seven feet taller than me [i am almost a gnome by height definition], but you can't tell in this picture because she is sitting on the floor and I am standing. But just to give you an idea of the difference, I have included a picture of height difference.

Yup, pretty accurate.