Don't Call it a Comeback...

Blogging here will resume shortly with a full recap of this last weekend's Soup or Salad Austin Food Challenge.

We had some great entries this year, including (but not limited to):
-Chris and Danny's creamy cilantro soup
-Shannon's delicious roma tomato and sweet basil soup
-Dan & Amanda's Asian-inspired chicken and mandarin orange salad over rice noodles. The wine paired with it was a great touch.
-Roxanne's awesome vegetable salad. I didn't try it, but it seemed to feature a bunch of colorful veggies.
-Rob's crazy salad featuring homemade dressing and at least 6 different types of lettuce. He needed a cue card to remember all the lettuces.
-Andy's spicy soup with lettuce spaghetti-o wraps (a favorite of his kiddos)
-My chicken, corn, and spinach tortilla soup
-Kristin's smokey white bean and andouille sausage soup...served in bread bowls

Kristin was our champion in a hotly contested kitchen battle. Her soup tasted great, and the bread bowls put her entry over the top.

There was much drama throughout the evening, especially with the now standard reading of the judges' comments. This was a great evening once again!

Based on preliminary will of the people, it looks like the next cooking challenge will be...(drum roll)...DESSERT! Stay tuned for more details and photos.

Temporarily On Hold

A close family friend is currently fighting a serious illness. I won't be updating the blog for the next few days or so.

See y'all soon.

A Good Cause

A close friend, Mark, is working to raise a contribution for the Arkansas Children's Hospital. Mark may be "Ridin' Thirty", but he actually runs in marathons. How someone can run that far voluntarily, I will never know. He will be running the Little Rock Marathon on March 4th to support the outstanding Arkansas Children's Hospital.

He has a goal of raising $7,500 in contributions before the grueling, shin-crushing marathon. $2030 has been raised to date with one month to go, so there is a lot of work left to do.

Check it out:
http://www.geocities.com/mark_larovere/?20074

Save the Date...

The Soup or Salad Food Challenge is coming on February 24th. Mark your calendars, hone your knives, and start hitting the [cook]books.

This is going to be a soup-er, puree fun event that you won't want to leaf.

So, I ask you:



OR

Good Literature

Yes, I am linking another short story. Edgar Alan Poe stories are classics, but when was the last time you read one?

The Cask of Amontillado

Read This Story...

The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

Birthday Weekend...

It's my birthday this weekend, and we have an awesome slate of celebratory type activities planned thanks to Shannon. It will include dinner at Castle Hill Cafe, of our rehearsal dinner fame.

A friend in Slovakia sent the barbarian happy birthday song. Please enjoy.

To the Tune of "The Volga Boatmen"

Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]
Doom, destruction and despair,
Grief and sorrow fill the air,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

Birthdays come but once a year,
Marking time as Death draws near,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

May the cities in your wake
Burn like candles on your cake,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

May your deeds with sword and axe
Equal those with sheep and yaks,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

You must marry very soon,
Baby's due the next full moon,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

Your servants steal, your wife's untrue,
Your children plot to murder you,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

They stole your sword, your gold, your house,
Took your sheep but not your spouse,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

When you've reached this age you know
That the mind is first to go,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

While you eat your birthday stew
We will loot the town for you,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

Indigestion's what you get
From the enemies you 'et,
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

So far Death you have bypassed
Don't look back, she's gaining fast
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

We brought linen, white as cloud,
Now we'll sit and sew your shroud,

Just be glad the friends you've got
Haven't found out you-know-what!
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [Hunh!]

This one lesson you must learn,
_First_ you plunder, _then_ you burn!
Happy Birthday. [Hunh!] Happy Birthday. [ARRrr!!]

Hear the Women Wail and Weep
Kill them all, But Spare the Sheep

Major LOLs

This is something I've always wanted to try on Velcro, but Shannon is unwilling to budge. I think it would have major health benefits: better cooling and less risk of a hairball.

Funny Cats