Necronomicon Fun!

...or maybe Necronomicon Madness is more appropriate! What a whirlwind weekend it was, but worth every damn minute! I don't even know where to begin! But I guess the craziness officially began when I started plotting out some rather, well, Non-Euclidean cupcakes :-D.

There's nothing I love more than the hustle and bustle of running around my kitchen getting a cake and various other treats ready. But the production of these were turned up to almost warp speed!  Now I know they aren't my best looking work, but there was a lot that went into these with less than 48 hours to go before we had to leave for the con! Not to mention transport TO Providence and then keeping them cool 'til our epic Arkham Horror Book Club meeting on Saturday evening! Let me tell ya, I was freezing for a good chunk of our trip for the sake of my craft!  But it was all worth it in the end! The tentacles got a little melty but I think it actually made them look a little creepier! My fellow AHBC'ers absolutely loved them and that's all that matters!!

Upon arrival to Providence on Thursday evening, we had the honor and privilege to work and participate at the H.P. Lovecraft Bronze Bust Unveiling at the Providence Athaneaum. What a wonderful experience it was! You know it's going to be a good time when the first person you run into at the Forbidden Fountain is none other than Lovecraft himself! I'm talking about the fabulous Leeman Kessler of the "Ask Lovecraft" YouTube video series! If you haven't checked those videos out by now, please do! He truly does a remarkable job with them! I don't think I've ever met a sweeter human being! He came all the way from Toronto for the con! And we were lucky to have him to pal around with for most of the weekend :)! 

As I mentioned earlier, Yeti and I were technically working at the event and making sure to not let in the riff-raff by checking people in at the door! I have to say I'm incredibly proud of how I handled myself when S.T. Joshi (who is THE authority on Lovecraft) showed up right in front of me to check in. I think I said something like "You're all set, just go in!" The bust itself was truly breathtaking. Bryan Moore, the artist behind it, did a marvelous job capturing Howard's likeness. The bust is now on permanent display downstairs at the Athenaeum. What a fitting tribute to a man who spent much of his time there while growing up in Providence!

The next morning (Friday), we were up bright and early to begin working at the registration table! What a fun experience it was! It took some time to work out some of the kinks but once we were all on the same page, everything flowed together nicely. All the guests and speakers began checking in (including Stuart Gordon, AHHHH!!!!)  and the vibes in the air were nothing short of fantastic! Everyone was excited and ready to immerse themselves in the insanity-inducing world of Lovecraft. Of course we would not have been able to participate in such an incredible event if it were not for the efforts of one special lady who has been working her ass off and deserves all the praise in the world for her efforts! She is the one and only, Ms. Mallory O'Meara!

What can I say about this truly remarkable young lady that hasn't already been said about her! Between running three chapters of the Arkham Horror Book Club, organizing a walking tour of Lovecraft's Arkham, working on the Bronze Bust Project Team and organizing ALL of the volunteers for the Con, I don't know how she does it! She reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age. Seriously where did all my enthusiasm for awesome things go? We are so lucky to have such a wonderful friend in our lives. Thank you, Mallory! We love you!

Friday went by in a flash and soon enough we were starting to get ready for the Eldritch Ball which was happening that very evening! Normally my vintage-era-of-choice falls somewhere between the late 1940's - early 60's, so when I had to find something to wear that fell between 1890 - 1936 (the length of Lovecraft's life) I was a tad bit thrown off. But I think Yeti and I pulled it off and looked rather dashing as a result! It was such a blast seeing everyone's creative costumes and fun masks! The dance floor was rarely empty thanks to the haunting tunes of Alec K. Redfearn and the Eyesores! It wasn't until the band stopped and the Spook Show took over that there was any sort of lull during the evening.  Here are just a few shots from that lovely evening. I didn't get many full length shots of myself at the ball  unfortunately (since I was taking most of the pictures) but as soon as I get some I'll share those as well!

Honestly, Saturday morning was kind of a blur! To be honest, I was still somewhat bleary eyed from the previous evenings events (Thursday included). Late nights partnered with very early mornings make for a very cranky Jo! I don't think I truly woke up until after lunch, ice cream and a nap. Thankfully, our little registration table had quieted down just a tad, but there was still plenty to do and see throughout the Biltmore and Hotel Providence. The real highlights of Saturday didn't come until later on in the day anyway. Yeti and I met up with Jessica (one of my oldest friends from high school), her husband Glen and their daughter Erin for dinner and frozen yogurt! It was so much fun to hang out with them and catch up! After that we made our way back to our hotel, packed up the tentacle cupcakes and headed off to the Trinity Brewhouse for the Arkham Horror Book Club Meet-up! What an amazing time we all had!! Great food, amazing beer and some of the best company anyone could ask for :). From there we headed over to the Providence River for WaterFire! Some of us actually got to participate in the very strange-but-fun cultist processional through the crowd which was followed up by the even more bizarre Cthulhu Puppet Show, in a manner of speaking. That's what it looked like to me anyway :). What a spectacle it was! I only wish they could've gotten the big Cthulhu they had to stand up straight. All that build up and it seemed that the stars weren't exactly right just yet. I wish I could' ve taken a few pictures but both my camera AND my phone were hidden under my cultist robe (There's a phrase I never thought I would say!).  This is the only shot I got all night :-/. 

After another quick sleep, Sunday morning arrived and I woke up with a heavy heart. I was sad because our wonderful time in Providence was coming to a close.I knew we would be saying goodbye to some amazing people. Some we may not see again for a fairly long time or maybe never again. But I tried to put on a happy face and we ended our Lovecraftian weekend in the only proper way we could: At the Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast, of course! What a service it was! It was the most fun I've had at "church" in several years! There was a cultist choir and some hilarious speakers! Let me tell you, Robert Price is the kind of preacher I can get behind! 

In closing, we had such a blast at Necronomicon. With the exception of one snafu that will go unmentioned everyone was lovely and an absolute joy to spend time with. We all came together to honor a man who never saw fame in his lifetime and probably wouldn't know what to do with all this attention directed toward him. I've heard it said that they are trying to put another con together for 2015 and I certainly hope all the proper pieces fall into place so they can! I'm absolutely looking forward to the next gathering of the fine Lovecraftian folk that we met over the weekend. 

Until next time, readers ;)....

                                                                                                                  

           

Uhhhh....Testing, 1,2?

Is this thing on?

Oh good. I just figured i'd check since my last post was apparently May 5th. What kind of ridiculousness is that?? What in the world am I doing with my time? Between cake decorating classes, baking everything under the sun, getting back to the gym (I can't even type that without chuckling to myself), engagements with family and friends, marathoning Doctor Who with Yeti, work obviously, taking care of my home etc., I guess I just haven't had time to sit down and bang out some short stories/blog entries. I know I've been busy but I didn't realize I was so busy that I let my poor little blog fall to the wayside! I need to work on fixing that! I know I say that all the time, but, i'm serious this time! Really I am!

I've been thinking about life a lot lately. Maybe it's because I live with Yeti whose brain only shuts down to sleep for a few hours. Even when he wakes up first thing in the morning, he's contemplating philosophical questions and political debates. I don't know how he does it. My biggest problem when I wake up in the morning is what I'm going to eat for breakfast. I need at LEAST two cups of coffee before my brain starts to function properly. I don't know if that's good or bad.

It could also be because i'm very rapidly coming up on my 30th birthday. I know i'm probably making it out to be a bigger deal than it actually is but it's certainly a milestone. I remember turning 20 and thinking about turning 30 in ten years. "But 30 is so far away! I've got plenty of time to play!" And then 9 ridiculously fast years later, I realized that I was almost 30 and still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grow up. I think I know now but, honestly, does anyone really know? I think i'm feeling that if I don't do something now and make some changes the time will never come again. Why is it that 30 is the magic number to make people question these things? It's just a number after all. Although I guess it could be viewed as that dreadful number smack dab in the middle of ones life. But humans are living so much longer these days. When will 40 become the new 30? Most of my friends from my high school years have turned 30 and they seem to have come out of it unscathed. So what exactly is my problem?

I think i'm just worried that i'm wasting too much time. The old adage of "Use it Or Lose It" becomes more and more gut-wrenching to think about the older I get. Am I really using my time and talents to my advantage? Am I trying hard enough to make sure my voice is heard?  Is there anything I could be doing better? Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I don't like sitting around and doing nothing. "There are 24 usable hours in everyday" is what I always say. Even in that state of mind, I always wonder if I could be doing more. I'm not a person who likes to "rest" easily. Sometimes I wonder if I should get up earlier just to get everything done that I want to do! Maybe I just need to focus more on things that make me happy and that I WANT to do instead of things that I NEED to do. I'm slowly but surely learning how to balance those things out.

My cake decorating and baking are really something I want to focus on. As I've stated before on this blog, I come from a family of decorators but my father and grandmother only ever did it as a hobby. I believe, and always will that if the opportunity ever arose to turn their skills into a business that they absolutely would have. I often wonder if they regret that decision not to embrace their passion for cake decorating and baking. But of course I could be all wrong entirely and maybe they just thought of it as something fun to do rather than something that could be a career. For me personally, it's something I can see myself doing form sunrise to sundown and not getting tired of. Here are some examples of my work so far since my last post:

 Two weeks or so ago, Yeti and I were talking about how our local bakery closes up at 6pm! I was put off by this and didn't understand why they closed so early when they could surely make more money when people get out of work. Then he explained "Well they open around 5, I think. So they probably have to even BE there at 4 just to start baking everything fresh! That's probably why they close so early." And I thought that was the greatest thing. Just waking up and baking and decorating all day. Maybe even writing in between baking and decorating all day. How wonderful!!

So starting today, with 29 days to go before my 30th birthday, I will be officially opening up shop for business!! If you need a cake, cookies, cupcakes or anything dessert-related for your next event, i'm your girl! There's no project too big or too small! I will tackle it with blood, sweat and tears if I have too! But I promise, no bodily fluids will touch your cake! I'm working on getting some business cards made and I may even start up a separate blog page to keep everyone updated on my progress/different projects! So tell your friends! Tell your mom! Tell your friend's mom! Tell your mom's friend! The Jostess Bakery* is finally ready for the challenge! 

I do hope you'll consider me for your next big gathering or party! I'm looking forward to spreading my wings and embracing this brand new venture. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have! I'm really excited about this news and I hope you are too! 

Chickens, Chickens, Everywhere!

 ...Aaaaaand we're back after two long (not exaggerating at all) weeks without a post. I swear, life just gets away from you sometimes! I can't believe it's already May 5th! Where did the year go?? I'm really excited to dive back into this project head-on and produce some amazing dishes! Starting with Chef Ramsay's recipe for Stuffed Chicken with Garlic and Chestnut Stuffing! But first, a little background story!!

Yesterday, Yeti and I had the pleasure of cooking for a few of my in-laws. My mother-in-law, Denise (who is super awesome and probably cooler than your mother-in-law), let us usurp her kitchen for a little while to experiment with another of Gordon's delicious recipes. The little fellows in the picture to the left are just a few of the Silky Chickens that she keeps at her home! The other fully grown chickens are kept outside in the coop of course but these guys are almost brand new! These little ones were born ON Easter and they have already grown so much just in the short span of time since then! It was so much fun watching them run around. It really did remind me of how toddlers run and play with each other.  I also find it highly ironic that here we are about to begin cooking a chicken recipe and there are baby chicks running around at our feet not knowing what's about to happen. That's the circle of life I guess, huh? But don't worry no one kills and eats the silky chickens. They're pets and they produce some of the best eggs i've ever eaten :). And now,  onto the recipe!

So the title of this recipe is called "Stuffed Chicken with Garlic and Chestnut Stuffing". The unfortunate part of that is we didn't have the chestnuts, but it turned out in the end, you don't really need them! The other elements of the stuffing (onion, garlic, celery, parsley, pine nuts and rice) all come together beautifully. But first and foremost (before we even got the stuffing we had to acquire a de-boned chicken. I had no idea where to even start with that but luckily Yeti knew of a wonderful market called Savenor's in Cambridge that could take care of it for us!  They even wrapped it back up for us and let us keep some of the bones to make a stock in the future!

Wrapped with additional bones

De-boned!  

  Pretty neat, huh? It was really neat watching the butcher cut out the ribs and the joint bones! It looked so intensive yet he did it so quickly! We left the drumsticks on because the recipe didn't say whether we should leave them off or not. but the end result after the chicken was wrapped was nothing short of hilarious. But that's a step or two away,  now onto the stuffing! As I said earlier, it was a fairly simple mix of onion, garlic, celery, parsley, pine nuts and rice. All of which being added at various stages of doneness. Is doneness even a word?  Anyway, I only got a few shots of the stuffing prep as it had to be stirred constantly to prevent over cooking. We also added rice with turkey stock (homemade) for flavoring. The rice was a little underdone when it was added but it worked out really well in the end since the rice cooked while inside the chicken absorbing more moisture. It was beautifully cooked. The pine nuts especially added a nice crunch to the stuffing. I have to say I'm rather impressed with myself. A few years ago, you couldn't PAY me to eat the amount of onions like the one in the first picture. I always thought they were repulsive. But I hardly taste them now! Becoming a quasi-foodie has really been wonderful :).

The stuffing process itself turned out to be less labor intensive then I thought. Although I credit that to having a few extra hands in the kitchen (myself, Yeti, and my sister-in-law Nicole). If I had to stuff AND roll a chicken AND tie the strings all on my own, there would have been a huge mess. Like I said earlier, the end result was...hilarious looking. So much so that my sister-in-law thought it would be funny to give the chicken/parcel/alien a face. The uncooked chicken looked very similar to something I saw in Rob Zombie's "Lords Of Salem" last week.  Needless to say, the face didn't stay on for long. The cook time for the chicken was one hour at 350 degrees, plus an additional 15 minutes at 400 with the purpose of crisping the skin. What we found, however, was that our chicken was pretty well crisp halfway through the additional time. Here are some before and after shots: 

I'm sorry but I find the little legs sticking out at the bottom highly amusing, yet somewhat disturbing. It looks like the poor thing was just horribly tortured in the oven. We let the finished chicken rest for about 15 minutes after cooking to preserve the juices. Gordon is a big advocate for letting your meats rest to save and absorb as much of the flavor as possible. What a difference it makes! I was extremely pleased with how this entree came out. The chicken was moist, completely cooked through and had such an intense flavor from the stuffing! As I said previously. the stuffing was unbelievable and so simple to prepare!  We made some simple sides to go with it (basic mashed potatoes and corn on the cob) since the main attraction was of course the chicken and we didn't want to overshadow it. It's amazing to me how adding just a few simple steps (aside from the de-boning part) can turn a normal roasted chicken into something specatular like this! 

I can't wait to start working on the next dish. I'm thinking since we got some extremely fresh eggs from Denise's silky chickens we should probably go with the recipe for a Bacon, Peas and Goat Cheese Frittata. What do you all think? Anything you guys want to see us try next? We have a bunch of different options ready to go including all kinds of proteins, some vegetarian and even some desserts! I can't wait to see where this project goes from here! Thanks a million to Chef Gordon for creating such a mouth-watering and delicious recipe, and a huge thanks to my amazing mother-in-law and her husband Paul for letting us come in and make a mess of their kitchen ;). 

Oy. What a week.....

This week (specifically Monday) I began my Gordon Ramsay project. I was excited to buy all the ingredients, put my skills to the test and create a wonderful dish. Tuesday I expected to share the experience with you all. But then something happened. Something huge. Something bigger than any project I could be undertaking at that moment.

I haven't really had the time nor the words neccessary to express my deepest sympathies for the victims and families affected by this monstrous event. And what can I say? What can I say that hasn't already been worded so eloquently? Words and writing are my forms of expression and unfortunately I am at a loss this week. So i've sat quietly watching and listening to the simultaneous outpouring of grief and support for a town I hold so dear. My town. My home. My Boston.

I keep writing something that I think is good and then erasing it because I know it doesn't fully describe how I'm feeling right now. I thought taking a few days to process everything would make it easier to finally get out but I still can't describe it. There are so many different levels of incredible sadness and anger coupled with glimmers of hope that I feel here and there. The past few days have been some of the longest that I think I have ever experienced in my life. What was supposed to be a short 4-day work week has turned into a nightmare. I can't say too much about where I work but I can say that it has played a crucial part in the recovery process from this horrific occurence. I've watched my coworkers work their asses off trying to reconnect victims with their loved ones. I've dodged journalists trying to "get the scoop" and I've even seen some high profile visitors come through my lobby. All of this coupled with trying to process what the fuck happened, trying to keep tabs on my own family and friends and learning about my grandmother's recent hospitalization has resulted in me being a very tired and somewhat numb Jo.

I don't think I've ever once felt unsafe going into town. And I'm not saying I do even now, but I'm still in utter disbelief that something like this could possible happen in a place I felt so secure. As a child, my aunt would often bring me into the old Boston Garden for the circus or for numerous "Disney On Ice" shows. When I became a teenager, my best friend and I thought we were really "cool" when we got to hang out in Boston for the day. Faneuil Hall with all it's tourist-y glory was the place to be, after all. As an adult, I got a job IN Boston literally right around the corner from where the blasts occured: The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. (Of course now it's the Taj, but that's a horrible memory to recall). I was able to walk through the Public Garden everyday, take a Swan Boat ride on my breaks (when I got one) if I wanted, stroll down Newbury and Boylston street and just people watch.That's when I started really falling in love with the city and embracing every aspect that it had to offer.

I remember vividly that first Red Sox parade that happened just a street over from us. I opened the window and the roar of the crowds just poured into the club where I worked. It was glorious. I truly felt the love that the citizens on this great city and Commonwealth had for their beloved Sox. And of course every 2nd Monday in April, the hotel was fully booked with marathon runners and supporters from all over the world. I think my favorite pair of runners I met were a father and son team, whose names I can't recall. The father had open heart surgery and was running his first post-surgery marathon! I remember being amazed that he would be able to undertake such a feat! He was truly an inspiring individual. After hearing the news on Monday (and on top of everything else flooding my mind), I wondered if he and his son were running this year.

Today, amidst the insane manhunt that is still going on as I type this, I went into work armed with the knowledge that I may not be leaving anytime soon. As terrified as I was, I still went in. I don't know why but I felt compelled to be there and help. Maybe it was because I wasn't there to help on Monday and I feel a touch bad. I could've stayed home today but I did not want to abandon my coworkers, friends and patients who I knew would need support today. We waited and watched the live video feed of SWAT teams and armed police as they patrolled through Watertown looking for the bastard responsible. As the day wore on (as many of you may know), travel restrictions were eased gradually and we were eventually allowing people to leave, as long as they weren't going to any of the restricted areas/towns that were affected. The mass exodus from my job could not have gone any quicker. When I was given the go ahead to eventually leave myself, I was relieved. I would soon be safe at home. It was just about then when I heard the faintest of cries. I glanced over to my right and there was a mom and dad with their newborn baby ready to go home. I briefly froze for a moment. I couldn't believe they were about to bring a poor innocent baby out into such a cruel and horrible world. I was sad. 

But then I thought that maybe, just maybe, that kid could be hope for a new beginning. Even though things seem so miserable and scary now, there is still that small chance to try and turn it around. With every new baby born, we're given another shot at changing this world for the better. These dickheads may have tried to scare us and break us down, but they failed. We will not falter. We are Boston after all. We are one of the oldest cities in this great country of ours. We always endure. A city that endures and grows, instead of backing down is a town I am proud to call my home,

And as I close out this post, they got him. #BostonStrong

A Necessary Evil

Running. Everybody does it. Hell, some people actually enjoy it. But I am not one of those people.I tried to like it. I really did! But I hate it. I hate that I have to buy special shoes so I can actually do it. I hate the shin pain that I get from it.  I hate how it hurts to breathe when I run outside. But the thing I hate most of all is that it actually works for me when it comes to weight loss...so I HAVE to run.

I kinda feel bad posting this considering the Boston Marathon is coming up on Monday. Thousands of people will fly in from all over the world to run 26.2 miles voluntarily and here I am complaining about how much I hate it.  I can't even wrap my head around that! Kudos to all the runners this year, in the past, and those to come! You guys have an intense amount of strength  and will power that I don't think I will ever achieve. Simply because I loathe running.

Even as a kid, I hated it! Most kids like to run around and play tag and chase each other. But not me. I remember running in gym class in elementary school and the teacher would make us run across Merritt Park in Chelsea to get warmed up. It really was hard and painful to breathe afterwards! Thinking back on it now as an adult, that was probably a bad thing. It's probably STILL a bad thing since it happened the other day. Maybe I should get that checked out.

I've always had an underlying fear of running as well. Being a long-time sufferer of heart palpitations, I'm always worried that my heart is going to crap out on me right in the middle of a run! Even though they're waning in consistency and I've been told they're nothing to worry about, they're still terrifying to experience DURING a run. Yeah, that totally happens to me! I'm so thankful for those heart rate monitors on the treadmill for the terrifying moments when I DO feel some flip-flopping in my chest cavity during my workout! They help check my hypochondria at the door before I can convince myself i'm dying.

Yes I know I can get my cardio in on the elliptical and the stationary bike but they don't really work out that well for me. I don't "feel the burn", as they say. I can't really SEE a difference with the low-impact cardio either. This could just be all mental of course. At the end of a long run on the treadmill, I'm covered in sweat and I can feel that every muscle got a great workout! But that still doesn't mean I enjoy it.

Anyone out there have any tips on how to make this seemingly mundane exercise more fun? I've heard great things about the "Zombies, Run!" app, but I've yet to try it. Lady Gaga seems to work wonders when it comes to helping me zone out and forget that I'm running but even that gets old after a few runs. I'm running out of ideas (no pun intended)!  

I guess the most important thing out of all of this is that even despite hating running, I still do it. I still realize that is going to be a key ingredient during this phase of my life. Approaching my 30th birthday in the next few months, I realize that I'm not getting any younger and as a result am fast losing my youthful metabolism. Focusing on my diet and exercise will be crucial to maintaining how I look and feel! 

Hopefully by the time I reach 40, I won't hold such a grudge against running. ;)

Cake Decorating Class Week 2!

As you may or may not know, I've recently started a Wilton Cake Decorating course! And as I type this right now, I am currently enjoying the very first piece of my very first finished cake from class. I don't mean to toot my own horn too much but I am extremely impressed with how it came out, both in flavor and presentation!

See what I mean?? I wish I could upload how it smells and tastes too! And this is just my second week of class!  Of course it probably helps that I've been watching my dad  do it since I was little but I'm so thankful that a lot of the techniques and practices that I am learning are flowing so naturally. It's fun to watch the instructor do something and think "I already know how to do that!". I actually feel kinda smart and my self esteem goes through the roof!  I can DO this! I'm actually good at something!  

The class itself is such a great time. Our instructor, Nicole, has been such a joy to learn from!  There's about 13 or 14 of us in the group (including one guy!) and everyone is friendly, enthusiastic and ready to learn! It's a very hand-on class and you learn as you go! I think my favorite part so far was learning the icing recipe! I've been trying to replicate the recipe my dad and grandma have been using for YEARS and couldn't get it right until now. It is the exact same one they use and eating it brings me right back to my childhood days! It's a wonderful feeling!! :)

Every Wednesday there is a new class and there are 4 courses total to take!! I'm really looking forward to taking them all. Next week we will be working on CUPCAKE decorating and filling! Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely looooove cupcakes! As soon as I have pics of the final products, I will definitely post pics for you all to see! I won't be able to make it for the very last class unfortunately but I think I have a pretty good excuse for missing it ;):

HELLO :-D

Phew! Between this and my Gordon Ramsay project starting up very soon, I'm going to be surrounded by delicious food and baked goods! Is there anything better in life? I don't think so ;). Although to balance it out,I guess I'll have to start hitting the gym harder and more often. BOOOO!! But it's worth it I guess. As a friend of mine said just today "Life is Short, Eat Dessert First!". I don't think I've ever agreed with anything more in my life :)

And The Game Is On!!

I've arrived home from my second night of cake decorating (more on that tomorrow) to find that a very important element to my Gordon Ramsay project has arrived!!! I'm over the moon! I can't wait to dive into this book and learn to cook some amazing dishes and share it with you all!!  What a great way to end Wednesday! :-D