Oops!
Well... that's a little bit of a lie. I wrote a post in September that I just never posted. Hmm... is it a post if I never posted it?
Anyway! I promise to give you all an update about my life soon, but in the meantime, here's how I was feeling about 7 months ago!
Welcome to sophomore year my friends! There's so much I want to tell you, but only a fraction that I will actually share. I know people want to hear about all the deliciously dramatic things that have happened, but if the people involved heard I posted about them, they might get mad and say mean things about me which would cause me to rant once again about my life and the not happy things going on and that is once lengthy and vicious cycle that I do not want to subject myself to thank you very much!
Thus, no drama will be discussed on this blog! Forward with the happiness Captain!
Let's start on the subject of FOOD!!! (Truly everyone's favorite)
To begin with the conclusion, I have felt like a winner in the food department over the last couple of weeks. Despite almost setting off the fire alarm once due to my silliness in throwing a stick of butter into a hot pan, I have made some super awesome yumminess!! There were too many "ness-es" in that last sentence; I apologize for my inadequacies.
First of all, I cooked some super awesome taquitos! My sister found the recipe on Pinterest and shared it with me. But these are the best taquitos in the history of ever; no lie! I don't have a picture of this one because they're not as pretty as my other achievements, but if you're curious and would like to explore that funny tickling feeling telling you to make your own, here is the link: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/baked-sweet-potato-and-black-bean-taquitos/.
Numero due! I made the amazing, the incredible, the confounding, the magical- Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup. (Insert applause here). I made it from scratch in my happy little pot and it was an epic adventure. I say adventure because it was during this cooking experience that I almost burned butter... the apartment was rather fogkey (smokey/foggy but I didn't want to say smoggy). Inventing new words, fun!
Now, I know what you're thinking: you can't have Panera Style Broccoli Cheddar Soup without bread!
And you would be correct my friends. It is actually a written law... that exists in my head... ANYWAY!! I was not quite adventurous enough to attempt a bread bowl because my oven is finicky and I have never made bread before, so I decided to start small. I made, from scratch, I'm talking yeast, flour, the whole nine yards, two French Baguettes!
Not only was the meal delicious, but I made it on the first try without burning, charring, or messing up anything! (We're ignoring the butter incident) I feel accomplished.
But the magic doesn't end there!
How could the magic possibly end there? I haven't gotten to the best part yet! Dessert!
I made...
wait for it...
keep waiting...
one more wait...
A White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake!!!!
Naturally the recipe intended to mimic the Nothing Bundt Cake version of this beauty with icing and all.
Stuff doesn't usually turn out so great on the first try; let's just say that my key lime pie this summer is not being featured for a reason. But this cake not only tasted good, but it tasted correct. As someone who worked at Nothing Bundt Cake and who has therefore eaten A LOT of their cakes in her short lifetime, I can honestly say that I have never had a cake so closely resemble the moisture and flavor so accurately.
I was not only impressed with myself, but the awesome people who wrote the recipe! They are geniuses; because not only is the cake delicious, but it is super easy. I'm not kidding! There is no leg pulling happening here! I am being as serious as I can school myself to be when I say that this was the easiest cake I have ever made. You should all make one!
And of course I can't leave you all hanging in the dust if I'm challenging to make your own cakes, so here is the recipe I used!
http://5boysbaker.com/recipes/desserts/white-chocolate-raspberry-bundt-cake-copycat-version/
Thank you 5 Boys Baker for introducing such a work of pure magic into the world of us amateur bakers!
And now since another week has passed since I typed the beginning part of this post, I will share with you all yet another culinary victory!
Key Lime Pie.
Remember me mentioning how the Key Lime Pie from this summer was an epic failure? Well, for those of you who were unfortunate enough to have to eat my sad attempt at a Key Lime Pie this summer, I deeply apologize! No human should have been subjected to that atrocity.
That being said, this one was fabulous awesomeness compared to that one!
Look at that beauty! Aren't you proud!? Aren't you impressed!? Aren't you wondering what I'm doing with my life besides baking!?
Oh... I mean... what am I doing with my life?
Hmm... let's see...
Well for one thing, my friends threw me a surprise birthday party! Can I just say, THE MOST SURPRISING!!!!!
Not only because my birthday is actually in July, but because they were the most covert and sneaky about it. I legitimately had no idea! Believe me, if I had, I would have been wearing makeup for the pictures!
I cried.
I cannot even begin to express how much that meant to me. Life dreams came true. I wish my understanding of the English language held within it the means of translating the feelings I have into comprehensible words and sentences. Alas, 'tis not so.
The day resulted in my roommate and best friend, my twin, my auntie, and three really good friends being the most amazing people in the entire world. Thank you all so much! You are truly unbelievable individuals. I love you all and would not trade you for anything.
I have always wanted someone to throw a surprise party for me. This was more than I could ever have dreamed or asked for. Thank you.
But surprise parties and good food are not the only things that have gone on since we last saw each other. Oh no!
Let's journey back to last semester!
I was not in any shows: sad! But I did a lot of crocheting, and was able to be more involved in my sorority!
One example of this was Spring Sing! Our first year to compete and we got 3rd! Super proud!
Spring Sing was a lot of fun, and am I so impressed with the ladies who put the script and music together! Props to you for creating this beauty!
Other than that I didn't so a whole bunch outside of class work and such.
To the summer!!
I spent most the summer working for my father at his office. Don't get me wrong, the work was easy and the money was good, but I do not want a desk job. Like, ever again! Please don't make me!
If anything, this summer confirmed for me that I am pursuing the correct profession!
Since I was not able to participate in any shows this summer, I took it upon myself to look into amateur voice acting.
Most of the stuff I found is really simple. Fandubs, audio-books for original novels, random songs. But it's a lot of fun and I like it!
I actually just finished recording a really cool project that I will post the link for as soon as it's all edited and whatnot! I'm SUPER excited!
Naturally, I hung out with my friends a whole bunch this summer as well. It was really nice to see them, especially since we all go to school so far away from each other. It was great to be able to reconnect like that.
Other summer exploits: Chicago!
I'm going to try and make this brief because I know each day of my Chicago trip could be its own post!
Basically, I would like to move to Chicago after college, so it was really cool to explore the city I hope to one day call home.
I went with my sister and her friend with the singular intention of seeing Starkid! For those of you who are not familiar with Starkid, they are a group of friends who created their own production company, and who write and preform their own original and parody musicals.
They did two shows this summer, and I had the brilliant idea to suggest to my sister that, since we are now adult people, we should go to Chicago to see them! This worked out rather nicely because we have family up in that area that we were able to stay with during our time there. (Thank you SOOO much by the way!)
The trip was super mega awesome funness, and I got pictures with ALL the Starkids, and the shows were great, and we had awesome food, and we go a lot of great pictures, and it was essentially just a great trip!
All the pictures are on my sister's Facebook for the friends and family members who are curious about that exploit.
Also prior to this semester, was sorority recruitment.
I'm going to be honest, I was not excited about doing recruitment, but it was actually a lot of fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet all the girls, and I am so in love with all my new sisters. Not only are they all so precious, but I really think they will be able to carry on the legacy we're trying to leave on campus. I cannot wait until they're all initiated and know all the things!
Other than that, my classes have been good. I'm learning a lot of useful stuff, and hopefully after tomorrow I'll have a little more to actually write about!
Random side note: who noticed before this post that I changed the entire format of my blog? Anyone? I did that last February if you're curious...
Back to the present. It's March now, not September, and so much has happened! But I'm going to be mean and leave you hanging, muah-ha-ha! I promise to check back in soon with the details of every crazy thing I've done this year.
You know, unless I die before then! ;)
As Not Dead As Always,
Ali
