Giada makes it look too easy

So I am behind on posting this, but I have to write about my experience making homemade ravioli...

now we are talking homemade too...homemade marinara (which is sooooo worth it. fresh, delicious, with that tang of REAL tomatoes...nooom) ...homemade dough (so easy) and homemade ricotta filling.

Now outside of their relative detectability I only have one funny story to impart and that i my rather sad attempt at making the dough by hand. I have made dough before hundreds of times (that 100's translates roughly into about 20) but always in the food processor. This process is easy and worth it if you have the extra ten minutes and the pasta you are making is simple enough in flavor to really let the fresh taste stand out. HOWEVER...

I had the brilliant idea that I would try it without the aid of modern machinery, and instead opt to make it the "old fashioned" way. You know the drill I'm sure:
eggs resting in a bowl made of flour, like a volcano of chicken fetus, stirred gently, soft music playing as the dough comes together and is eventually kneaded in a wholely organic if not beautiful way...man and his connection with the food he makes...an almost sensual gentle but firm gesture...

let me stop here. I'm sure you know the drill...but let me impart my own accounting of this event. Chris is helping me by mixing our ricotta filling, and asks me right as I'm about to mix in my eggs how to fold...the rest goes like this...

"well you basically, ..hang on....expletive...expletive ...my egg is escaping...ahh...expletive expletive expletive ...ahhhhhhhhhhh...expletive ..."
etc

Now I did eventually get my dough under control, and hte pasta was fabulous but sufice to say I may abandon my food is a sensual process idea in lew of hte reality that while I may not be half bad at this cooking business....I am not very graceful

meal over-all initally recieved a 7 (ouch) on the Chris scale, but he later explaine das I tried to cut myself with my ravioli (harder then it looks) that he only meant our choice in filling, that it was bland. Amended vote to a 9 when asked how out ricotta filled ravioli ranked when judged as Ricotta filled ravioli not just ravioli in general....
vow to be more clear on expectations next time and to up medication as to be more prepared for Chris's German Olympic judge standards

Start Small ....with Shrimp

So unofficially my first recipe was and at the same time was not Spiced Shrimp, Mango and Spinach salad. Let me explain:
I did in fact make this today [spicy shrimp with lime, mango puree and cilantro pan-cooked and served over a spinach salad with marinated onion] and it was in fact delicious. However, the true first time around was last week when I made it with Chris (culinary critic and boyfriend extraordinaire). And it definitely got at least an 8 on the Chris scale*. It was a response to a Saturday night Shrimp crisis. He came over, we wanted a delicious last minute dinner. We had shrimp.
Scampi? Too obvious
Pasta? too heavy
So I found this recipe and all over it was a success.Just the right amount of spicy, just the right amount of acid....Paired well with Landshark


* funny story here. The Chris-Scale is the scale by which I measure all of my recipes. Now this would not be worth mentioning except save for this scene of dialogue:
Chris: Babydoll, that dinner was delicious
Me: We should rate all the meals I make you try
Chris: We should
Me: ohh ohh...do you want to make a graph
Chris: Alexandra, I'm an engineer....Hell yea I want to make a graph!!

Dolche doesn't camp???

OK so thanks to College Fashion I have a new reason to put off all the work I need to do before class....I was reading their Haute Links (clever) and came across this article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1249242/LIZ-JONES-Got-hot-Valentines-date-Dont-dress-want-undress-later-.html

TO sum it up, it basically suggests that men are not attracted to fashionable women. I suppose I feel especially insulted by this suggestion because I feel that just because I am obsessed with designer things, take great care in what I throw together in the morning, and care too much for the finer things in life that I convey the message
" I am not easy going"
I go camping, I do hard labor (I'm Polish after all), I work in the yard, I know more about my car then just how to drive it, and I like to relax and watch movies, and talk about things over coffee.....and I dress fashionably.

so here is the question: what about being fashionable reads "difficult, not easygoing, carefree etc" when there are a great number of women who are easy going, carefree blah blah and like to dress well?

now I have a small caveat: I know this is a double standard for some women who read well dressed men as ..well gay, but I think that assertion speaks to both a lack of information on these aforementioned woman's parts (I did have a friend who thought a women wearing polo shirts equated to an obvious VJ fetish, but has since learned) as well as to her current male companions. But it's there and I by no means am saying that a man is not allowed to like how a women is dressed (since by nature fashion is meant as a way to express yourself visionary) but I guess I just want to know why fashionable women are "hard to deal with" and where this seemingly wrong assumption came from.

another point: Read with grain of salt as the authors reference to her divorce may likely stem less from her fashion choices and more towards other things (see: "who is your favorite Sex and the City character?" and wonder if this is a) acceptable date conversation as he likely did not ask her who her favorite person on the man show was and b) if this question ever becomes good conversation....ever?)

Ok I'm back to work

Happy I Love Chris and You Wish Your Boyfriend was as Cute as Mine Day!!!

Casino night by Alexandra114 featuring Juicy Couture accessories

Items in this set:
Collected Calico Dress - Anthropologie.com, $140
Gap Khaki drawstring shirt dress, $60
James Perse Tanktop Beige, 95 EUR
RCA Structured Skirt, 70 GBP
FANCY, $945

so, and this was requested, I have posted a new polyvore set. (apparently Chris likes to have them so that he can get gift ideas, though I should mention that knowing this makes the creation of a set seem like gift registry haha). Anyway, the set represents two important things:
1. To what extent I am bored in Professional responsibility.
2. That for this coming valentines day Chris and I are going to Mohegan Sun to celebrate. So while resatrants are full to capacity with loving couples staring into each other's eyes over pre-fix meals, boyfriends scramble to jewelry stores to make that last minute purchase they forgot AGAIN this year, women spend hours hoping they recieve something that will impress girlfriends, and single folk thank hallmark with curse words and bird flipping for creating singles awareness day; CHris and I will be gambling, drinking, and eating our evening away, in a "break the mold" valentine experience.

This of course creates certain issues such as what one wears to such an event. So keeping in mind that I need relatively comfortable footwear (back has been hurting), temperature versatile outfits (have no idea how warm it will be) and ample evidence to demonstrate to my boyfriend that I am still as sexy a bitch as I was last valentines, I set out, mid-boring-lecture, to create a set of possible ideas. And thank heaven for on-line fashion tools; what did girls do before the internet?

So here is the result: I am strongly leaning toward the second ensemble (right) which while consist of my new Martin and Osa skirt (similar to center) with a non-descript top (see top middle) which will ultimately have a silhouette similar to the dress (right). I'm thinking my brown Mary Janes (very comfortable due to thick heal which actually takes pressure off my lower back) and a scarf for added warmth as necessary. I am also thinking I should stay relatively bare on my lower half as my legs are one of my better assets (this is V-day remember.....think sexy). I also think the simplicity of this outfit will allow me to go daring with my jewelry choices.
note on that: I love bib necklaces but have not actually experimented with them yet. so this gives me a great (open neck) oppurtunity. (see far right and middle) I may in fact fashion one myself.
second note: I want to wear my new charm bracelt (another Alexandra origional)(middle, black with charms) but as I was looking at the jewelry section of polyvore I got hung up on the Juicy charms. Maybe I'm late to the game with these but they are cute as hell. I'm suprised I dont see more people wearing them (or maybe I'm the only one who acutally likes them) but come on!!! CUTE!!! I decorated the bottom of the set with a few of my favorites to illustrate. Incidentally they are very alrge (prob twice as big as your average charm so they require a bracelet that is also large (far right bottom) but I'm not sure I couldn't make the switch

was that an outrageously long post about clothing?
yes
Should anyone post on their outfit picking thought process?
no
So why do it?
Because I think the one thing people forget about this day (see cynical comments above) is that it's a celebration of love: be it for another person in your life (CHRIS!!!!!!) or yourself. Maybe what Hallmark should really stress on this day is that in a couple you're boyfriend/girlfriend is not the only person who deserves your affection, and that we all should take some time to celebrate both the love we have/will have, and the love we deserve

Any way that is that....see you after Mohegan!!!!
Happy Valentines/Singles Awareness/Hallmark/Pre-Fix Menu day!!!!

Ode to some good love songs

so this little write up is to discuss in small part something I have come to realize this past week. It all started when I loaded the music onto my new Itouch (aniv present from Christopher!!!). you see I put it on shuffle and realized now that it had like 8,000 times more space on it then my nano, and because I had not yet checked the "only put on music I check" option my iPod was now filled with all of this great music that I had not listened to for lack of digital space. well in this suffle I can across the song "Such Great Heights" by Postal Service, and realized I had not REALLY listened to it since Chris and I got together, and how now it resinated with me in a whole new way. Well I chalked it up to our relationship and that was that....
............until a few weeks later when I listened to "Passenger Seat" (When you feel embarrassed then i'll be your pride /When you need directions then i'll be the guide) I also had this reaction. This was again the case listening to Ben Gibbard live for NPR....the conclusion:

Ben Gibbard writes the perfect love songs. well perfect for me. I have always loved his very literal writing style and have always connected with them, but it is evident to me that being in love with all its smoushy, cheesy, sickening side effects, his music celebrates that the most and I wanted to take a little time and some blog space to celebrate some of his best love songs:

I'll be the grapes fermented,
Bottled and served with the table set in my finest suit
Like a perfect gentlemen
I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick
Where you will sit and contemplate your day

I'll be the waterwings that save you if you start drowning
In an open tab when your judgment's on the brink
I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite
Albums back as you're lying there drifting off to sleep...
I'll be the platform shoes and undo what heredity's done to you...
You won't have to strain to look into my eyes
I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat
With the collar up so you won't catch a cold

I want to take you far from the cynics in this town
And kiss you on the mouth
We'll cut our bodies free from the tethers of this scene,
Start a brand new colony
Where everything will change,
We'll give ourselves new names (identities erased)
The sun will heat the grounds
Under our bare feet in this brand new colony
Everything will change, oOo oOo...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I Will Follow You Into The Dark"

Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
'cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The glove compartment is inaccurately named
And everybody knows it.
So i'm proposing a swift orderly change.

Cause behind its door there's nothing to keep my fingers warm
And all i find are souvenirs from better times
Before the gleam of your taillights fading east
To find yourself a better life.

I was searching for some legal document
As the rain beat down on the hood
When i stumbled upon pictures i tried to forget
And that's how this idea was drilled into my head

Cause it's too important
To stay the way it's been

There's no blame for how our love did slowly fade
And now that it's gone it's like it wasn't there at all
And here i rest where disappointment and regret collide
Lying awake at night

There's no blame for how our love did slowly fade
And now that it's gone it's like it wasn't there at all
And here i rest where disappointment and regret collide
Lying awake at night (up all night)
When i'm lying awake at night.

concert I cannot seem to download....sad face