The Zodiac Room

Today Mom and I went downtown (after Saturday School) to the Zodiac Tea Room on the 6th floor of Neiman Marcus. I have wanted to try it out for awhile, it's been around forever. I was reading a Dallas Magazine a week or so ago and I read about their popovers, and I scheduled a lunch! They started the meal with complimentary chicken broth, and a cheese bite, and then this enormous, steaming, puffed popover with individual, chilled bowls of raspberry butter. Yum! It was even bigger in person, and I snuck a picture on my iphone.

I ordered the Croque Madame because it's what all the reviews said was 'the best'....I filled up on the popover (priorities), and sweet potatoes fries, and salad, but what I ate of the Croque Madame was good too....

It was a really beautiful restarauant, and a fun experience. I'm glad I went! Lunch with Mom is always fun.
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/info/restaurant.jhtml?rest=100009

Spring Preview

You will probably see a bigger and more jazzed up version of this exact same Diaper Cake in a month or so for a shower I'm hosting (Surprise-the theme is going to be 'monkeys' on behalf of my pal who has always loved monkeys). Anyway, I threw this little cake together for a friend at work attending a shower this weekend (people know I love to use their money to go shop and get to try out crafts), the monkey is a little big for this little cake, but he's going anyway. The shower this work pal is attending has a safari theme, but I just chose one animal to focus on for her gift, she'll be fine with it. Jodi, I'm so in love with how easy these 'cakes' are to 'bake.' Thanks again for sharing. I had to show you....the trials didn't stop with the last one. I look forward to putting together a suped up Monkey Diaper Cake soon.

The Jury Is Still Out On These Brownie Bites...

A friend made these over the summer. She got the recipe at a Weight Watchers meeting. I remember thinking they were fine, but I'm not going to say I LOVE them. I made them for a staff development training my teaching partner and I are presenting tomorrow (bribe 'em with food). It's still a toss up for me because they are only 50 calories each, and one recipe makes 36, but they are not incredibly sweet....and I like my teeth to hurt when I'm eating desserts. I think if you added whipped cream or powdered sugar they would be even better (though a few more calories). So, if you want a low calorie and easy dessert, or you are trying to take something to a calorie aware crowd:
Brownie Bites
1 can of pumpkin (15 oz)
1 box of chocolate cake
Mix the dry cake mix and pumpkin, place about a tablespoon in each mini-muffin well.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
P.s. These went over well, a lot of the gals really liked them and ate multiple Brownie Bites, so...I'd recommend them for a group, especially a group watching their figures. :O)

Lent...or Something Close to It

Nope....I haven't converted to Catholosism, but I started my own form of fasting during Lent back in college. Easter is overlooked far too often in the commercial world, and I don't want it to be forgotten in my life...ever! Easter is a big deal! This six week 'fast' reminds me each time I 'deny' what I think I want-I need to refocus on what I truly need. If only it didn't take Lent to bring this about! This year I chose a true addiction-something I consume even more than bread (it's purely calories that prevents equal bread consumtion in my life)---->Diet Coke (and other sodas). I could walk around with an iv drip of Diet Coke and still want more. I've been in a pretty serious relationship with Diet Coke since high school. It's really hard for me to break up and see how we are going to do without each other. I had a slight moment of insanity where I tried to rationalize this not being a good decision, I mean-how stable is the economy right now? What if I am the cause of Coke going bankrupt? Breath in, breath out, focus on your happy place, Christy....you are now at Mrs. Baird's Bread Factory-a new batch of loaves is just leaving the oven....I have a feeling this is not the last you will hear about this! OK....starting today-cold turkey-no more Diet Coke until Easter. A headache is coming on just thinking about it.

Insert Picture Here

My friend Amber showed me how to make these picture holders last fall (and made me one for Christmas). I thought it was cute, so I went out and bought the supplies to put together my own for gifts. I usually don't post gifts if they are for people that I know do read my blog, but this go 'round....I'm breaking my rule. So, tonight I made my third one as a gift, and I decided I wanted to take a picture, even though I have not sent the other two off yet. So, like it or not-two of you are getting one of these soon in your mail, different paper and colors, but the same idea. This one is for Regan, I'm planning on heading up to Tennessee for a visit in April, so this is for her to fill with a picture from our weekend festivities, whatever they may be. (If you are reading this, Regan...I'm looking forward to my trip up! Sorry that you are my guinea pig, but I'm sure you are over it already). :O) The picture isn't very clear, but basically this is a huge clothes pin I bought at the craft store. I painted it (magenta), and then covered the surfaces with some scrapbook paper I liked. Here's a picture from the side so you can see exactly what this little wooden thing is that I'm discussing. It's a fun, and easy project. I've decorated each one with different doodads etc, but the 'frame' is the same. So, if you need a gift for someone....

Christy Needs...

OK, I saw this on Heidi’s blog, and I had to try it out. The mission is to type in your name, and attach the word ‘need’ then Google the phrase, next report on the top 10 answers. I currently have 23,900,000 ‘needs’ according to the Google search engine (if you only knew), but here are the first ten of my needs the site reported!
1. Christy needs to blog…
That’s funny, did you write this, Marie?
2. Christy needs help…
…like you wouldn’t believe!
3. Christy needs her own series…
This could be interesting….
4. Christy needs to take her opinion elsewhere…
Can I get an “Amen!”?
5. Christy needs more Pop…
I could have an IV drip of ‘Pop’ and still want another one…I’m addicted to soda!
6. Christy needs rainbow chills…
Sounds interesting, I’ll take two!
7. Christy needs a new computer…
I’m pretty fine with the one I have, new computer means new technology, and new technology means….well, refer to number 2!
8. Christy needs an intervention…
Sign me up!
9. Christy needs to take a good hard look in the mirror…
Ouch!
10. Christy needs to know where her inventory is located at all times of the day…
I didn’t know I needed to know this…..I’m off to locate my inventory now!