Girl Scout Cookies: The Big Debate

Yesterday morning on my way into work, I was listening to Kevin and Bean on KROQ. The topic of debate was Girl Scouts. More importantly, how Girl Scouts just aren't doing their job these days.

One of the hosts (Kevin or Bean, I'm not sure which is which), was going off about how kids these days don't even participate in their own selling events. Instead, it's the parents who go into the workplace and hit everyone up Soprano's-style to buy a paycheck's worth of Samosas and Thin Mints.

Isn't the point of selling goods for your group/ club (other than to rake in the scrilla) to teach children some valuable life tools? Like getting the courage to nervously mumble your well-rehearsed speech about being in troop #blah-blah-blah and explaining that the money will help buy more activity books and field trips? Or the responsibility of keeping track of all that filthy rich money in a tattered manila envelope without blowing it on Blow Pops and Big Sticks when the ice cream man comes around? Or the feeling of pure high-fiving accomplishment when they finally make a sale after practically begging people for 4 hours straight?

When I was in elementary school, I was a Brownie. In junior high, I played volleyball. In high school, I was in French Club. All of these groups required its members to sell cookies/ candy/ random shit to raise money. I don't really remember how things worked when I was a Brownie because that was a long-ass time ago, but I DO remember going door-to-door in junior high and high school, trying my hand at fund-raising.

I know some parents are all up in arms because they can't bear to let their kids out of their site for two seconds. I'm not saying these little tykes need to brave the mean streets of suburbia on their own.

But I don't see any harm in dressing them up in their club uniforms and sending them up to your neighbor's door to make the sale, while the parents stand back on the sidewalk.

If these kids showed up at my door, I'd buy the shit out of some Peanut Butter Savannas. (I'd probably also ask where I can get one of those cute little berets.)

What do you think? Is there anything wrong with these parents who take over for their kids when it comes to fund-raising? Is the importance in the lesson or the money? Am I being too old fashioned*?

*I'm not

Every Now and Then I Like to Throw the Vegetarians a Bone.

My friend Melissa is a Vegan. (I'm friends with a real life vegan. I know, I'm just as shocked as you. But she makes up for her lack of meat-eating with sweetness and laughter.)

She designed/created/made a cookbook. And gave me a copy. Because we're friends, you see. And also probably because she's secretly trying to turn me. Into one of "them".

Hello, little bookie.

Lots of helpful cooking information.

Blank pages for kitchen love notes.

Everything your heart desires.

Even though I have yet to attempt one of these recipes, I'm going to fully endorse this cookbook.

Now you may be asking yourself, "TILTE, why the hell are you endorsing this crazy ass non-animal food?"

Well, I actually HAVE tried some of Melissa's food- the Cherry Almond cake, sweet potatoes, and Coconut-Mango Rice, to be exact...

And it's really good! -And I don't just mean for vegans. I mean for reals.

Plus, her homemade leftovers that she brings for lunch always smell super tasty. And not like it's full of vegetable black magic.

So I wanted to let all of you know about her cookbook. Especially those vegetarian type (or just healthy) eaters who get all weirded out by the amount of animal products I consume.

Here's a great cookbook! Learn how how the whole thing came together by visiting Melissa's blog.

Feel like ordering one? Do it HERE!

Boner'ppetite.

We Had a Hawaiian Potluck at Work Today.

We had a "Hawaiian" themed potluck at work today. We pretty much used the term "Hawaiian" as loosely as possible because it wasn't really very hawaiian at all.

The party was originally supposed to be an after-work event. However, one particular coworker who turns all Hulkamania-roid-rage when he gets hungry asked (and asked and asked) if we could move it to a lunch time party instead. Since we didn't have anything better to do (except work), we decided to get the party started.

And by "party" I mean "everyone swarming the buffet table and eating in silence".

Even with the assistance of some homemade jungle juice, it was snoozeville.

However...

When round #2 of the potluck party came around (after work), things perked up a bit. Drinks were had and games were played. And it actually turned out to be a success!

Coconut-Mango Rice and sweet potatoes (my favs of the day)

Whoopie Pies

Pulled pork, grilled chicken, and tortillas

My Contribution: King's Hawaiian Rolls (because I was too lazy to cook anything)

Spam Musubi

My plate

My Other Contribution: Jungle Juice! (because why the hell not.)

There was more food than what's pictured above. There was tons of food, actually. Unfortunately, this was all I had patience for. Because I wanted to eat.

We had a limbo contest AND a hula hoop contest. At first, no one could master the act of actually keeping the hula hoop up for more than one second. But once we YouTube'd "how to hula hoop", things got REAL.

This is one of my coworkers who shall remain nameless (unless you want to hook it up, in which case let me know and I'll do what I can).

Lastly, I may or may not have made the office listen to Mele Kalikimaka today. (I don't fucking care that it's a Christmas song.) (Have you even HEARD Hawaiian music?? It's all boring and everything sounds like that dumb Iz "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" shit.) At least my song was fun and festive.

Boner'ppetite.

I Take a Picture of Almost Everything I Eat.

I take a picture of almost everything I eat. Not because I have a weird eating disorder. But because I have high aspirations of blogging about it.

The blog only happens about 8% of the time.

The eating happens 100% of the time.

Here are some random shots of food that never made it to the blog. (They were all taken with my phone, so don't expect some Dorothea Lange photojournalism here.)

Holiday Hams (Vons)

Three giant cakes I made for Pearl's birthday party.

Picnic at Malibu Winery

Picnic at the beach.

Snow Cone at the Obon Festival

$5 Cosmos at Aloha Steakhouse.

Happy Hour.

A favorite homemade dinner, spaghetti and asparagus.

French fries at Father's Office.

Albondigas soup at Casa de Soria.

Happy Hour at Cabo.

Happy Tuesday!

(I don't know why I said that.)

Recipe: Penne al Forno (It's Great for Entertaining!)

Last weekend Boyfriend and I hosted a little Game Night get-together at our house. Since we were having a good amount of people over, I jumped at the chance to try out a Nadia G. recipe (Bitchin' Kitchen).

Can you tell we like Bitchin' Kitchen...? I'm pretty sure Pearl wants to actually BE Nadia G. Like, in real life.



Penne al Forno

INGREDIENTS (bolognese)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1 red onion, minced
8 oz ground beef
4 cups San Marzano tomatoes, hand crushed
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp raw sugar
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sea salt
-fresh ground pepper to taste

INGREDIENTS (pasta)
-salt
-1 lb penne lisce pasta
-1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup grated mozzarella
1/2 cup grated parmesan





DIRECTIONS
For the bolognese: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and chili flakes and fry until golden (about 1 min). Add onions and saute till crispy (8-10 min).




Add ground beef and cook until crumbled. Add tomatoes, parsley, oregano, sugar, bay leaf, sea salt, and pepper. Mix and simmer for 20 min.





For the pasta: Bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook till almost al dente (8-9 min). Drain.

To assemble: Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 15x10 baking dish with butter.





In a bowl, mix pasta with half of the bolognese. Put a light layer of this pasta into the baking dish, followed by 1/4 cup sauce, 1/3 cup mozzarella, and 1 tbsp parmesan. Repeat with second layer till everything is used up.




Place in oven and bake until edges are golden and bubbly, approx 30 min.


Pig the fuck out.

NOTES:
-I used salted butter. Because that's what I buy.
-I used about 1/4 of chili flakes because I'm not a big fan of spicy food.
-I only bought one can of San Marzano tomatoes, which turned out to only be half the amount I needed. Being the resourceful person I am, I just substituted Ragu Traditional sauce for the other half. Also, it's because I'm fancy.
-I used way more than the suggested amount of cheese. Maybe twice as much mozzarella and four times as much parmesan.
-You know those free packets of red peppers that come with pizza? And the brown packets of "raw" sugar at Starbucks? I used those instead of buying a whole box of each. I never use those ingredients and they're the perfect serving size. And, I'm cheap.
-I was also a little nervous about using a whole red onion. We actually only went with half.

Boyfriend and I were very happy with the meal (it was fucking delicious). All of our guests had full plates and I even had enough for a few leftovers. And believe me, I ate the shit out of those leftovers.


Other things I like to eat (from game night)...

kettle corn from the farmer's market thanks to our friends Todd and Alex

baked brie thanks to our friends Melissa and Justin


my favorite green salad


dessert tartlettes thanks to my friend Rawnie


and Old Fashion cocktails thanks to Boyfriend

You should plan a game night too.

Boner'ppetite.

I Just Took Ten Years Off My Face! (And Also Added Ten Pounds to My Face.)

Remember when I was contemplating whether or not I should get bangs?

Well, obviously I got them.

And I say obviously because I'm impatient about that kind of stuff.

So, before I reveal the "After", let's take a look at some of the good times I had without bangs.

Poses inspired by Toddler & Tiaras

And now. For the moment you've all been waiting (for the past 38 seconds), MY BANGS!!!

I think bangs tend to make me look younger, which I'm not really complaining about. However, said bangs also accentuate my acorn-storing cheeks, which is something I AM complaining about. But I guess there's nothing I can do about that. Except for maybe go on a diet. And obviously that's not going to happen. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Vlog: Working Out with TILTE

Many of you have asked how I keep in such great shape.

Well, here it is. The secret to my success.

The Wii Fit.

I discovered it in our garage two weeks ago, but I've already used it like four times. Which basically means I'm fucking ripped now.

You ready?

It's time to get swole.

(Music: Satisfaction by Benny Benassi)

People also ask how I manage to stay so fresh and beautiful while I exercise. To which I reply "I guess I'm just lucky that way".

If anyone wants any workout pointers, just hit me up.