Something Saturdays (8/4/12)

Hello friends!

I'm super lonely right now.

Michael's in Ohio for a friend's wedding, and I had to stay here to work, so you all will have to keep me company, k?

Since he's not here to listen to me ramble, you'll all have to fill that role.

I have a new obsession.

Pocket Princesses

OBSESSSSSED.

Whoever this Amy Mebberson is...I love her. She has a collection of tons of art works (that she makes) that take all your favorite stuff from your childhood...and sometime mashes them together. My favorite is her "Pocket Princesses" series. She draws the Disney Princesses doing hilarious things together. Seriously. Check it out. Giggle for hours. She totally understands their personalities and it's so fun to see them interacting with their fellow princesses!

Also...I did something crazy on Thursday. Don't hate me. But...I had some leftover chocolate chip cookies that I'm not in love with. I wanted to do something to them to make them taste more interesting. So I did this:

Oh yes...I did.

These aren't really a recipe, so I'll just sum up how you make these:

1. Take a cookie.
2. Place marshmallows on top.
3. Put under a broiler.
4. Keep a close eye on it, and remove when marshmallows are golden brown.
5. Place a 2nd cookie on top.
6. EAT!

Um....yeah. Exactly. Amazing. I don't know how I'll ever eat these cookies plain again. I apologize for the fact that I've undoubtedly ruined whatever your immediate plans were, because obviously you're running off to do this. I cannot blame you.

Brown Bag Microwave Popcorn

Popcorn and I have had a very intense relationship over the years-we've had a lot of ups and downs.

For some reason, up until the 2nd grade-I thought I didn't like popcorn. Then, when I tried some, I realized I LOVED popcorn! I began to eat it a lot-a movie theaters, but especially microwave popcorn at my house. Eventually I was up to eating 1 bag of microwave popcorn PER DAY! I was very picky about what kind as well. Act II Butter Lover's Popcorn was the only popcorn for me. In high school, when I was worrying about my weight a bit more, I cut back to only a few bags of popcorn a week. This kept up through my first year of college. Then, in the midst of my 2nd year...something happened. I sort of started to get over it. I began to eat popcorn less and less. I realized movie theater popcorn made me sick, and I was sort of microwave-popcorn'd out. So, me and popcorn took a break. 

While I was shooting in Maine and discovered Michele's popcorn, my love was reawakened, but in a new form, now I'm more into the occasional sweet popcorn (such as caramel corn). 

Recently, I learned that microwave popcorn bags are lined with all kinds of stuff that is bad for you (yeesh I wish I'd known that as a kid). I don't have an air popper. Using oil/skillet/etc. seems messy and complicated.  So I was VERY excited when I learned there's a safe, easy, fat-free way to make popcorn in my own microwave! It's so seriously simple: Take a brown paper bag, put the kernels in (you don't even need oil!), tape it shut, microwave and VOILA! YOU HAVE POPCORN!!

So cool. Just....so cool. 

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

So, I'm on a bit of a personal mission.

I am searching for the perfect mashed potato recipe.

Along the way, I have found many recipes that I really love, but none are that quintessential, perfect mashed potato. Now...I'm sure part of the reason for this is I have yet to actually use cream + a lot of butter (because let's face it...that's probably it). I'm not complaining, though, because I thoroughly enjoy all of the different kinds of mashed potatoes I've made so far--although most of them have some aspect of garlic/cheese to them. These potatoes are, so far, my favorite basic mashed potato recipe I've made. I mean...c'mon...they use browned butter, and we all know how awesome that is. And, because of the strong, buttery flavor that lends, you can use less butter than normal-which is good for our bellies/thighs/whateverproblemareayouhave. These are absolutely best if you use a combination of gold and russet potatoes-they just are.

I know I should probably be sharing this recipe around like Thanksgiving time. But...I don't eat according to season. I eat what I like, regardless of the date on the calendar. I understand this is a strange idiosyncrasy of mine, and I completely understand if you wait until fall breaks to try these but...I wouldn't be able to wait if I were you :).

 Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Adapted slightly from How Sweet It Is

Serves 4-6 (generous helpings)