JenLeoLIVE!

What! Jen cooks?

I like cooking for people. I really do. Nobody would know that because I hardly ever do - but it's fun for me. Little Jenny Cleaver. I chose one of my fave dinners that Popo used to make. Flank steak. Then I went with a safety, baked potato. I make great baked potatoes. And you can never go wrong with peas and salad. Beauty, right?

Note to self: Do not try new recipes when tested microwave method works best.

I always make my terrific fluffed baked potatoes in the micro. I KNOW - bad, bad, double bad. So, John asked me if I could do them in the oven instead. Sure, no problem. Google baked potato and what do I find? Coat it with olive oil and salt? OK, sounds yummy. I've never had a bad anything with olive oil. Place in middle of the oven and bake for an hour. Done. So, why weren't the potatoes done? Ah well. A few minutes in the micro won't hurt.

Flank steak recipe on the wrapper. Did I miss the fine print? No. 15 minutes. So, why was it more rare than it was supposed to be? Yikes!

Anyway, you're getting the behind the scenes horrors. The dinner was actually quite lovely, except for John's who took the brunt of the mistakes. Conversation flowed freely and John's dad couldn't have been more gracious and happy. But the best compliment was when almost 18-yr-old David said, "This is the healthiest meal I've had in months." A bit disconcerting but still high praise for the cook.

The funnest part of the night was tough to call. Both events were equally exciting and squeal-worthy. First, we got these AMAZING Cole & Mason salt and pepper shakers from Dave and Cotie. You look at their slender stainless steel shape and think, ah, how lovely. But then you push the button for the salt or pepper to grind and LET THERE BE LIGHT! Kind of like a UFO has light beneath it's saucer, so do our shakers. So, if you're having a candle lit dinner, you can see where your salt is going! It's the coolest thing ever and no doubt NOT recommended by the heart association as I must've put salt four times on my food last night I was so enamored with this little beast. You have to have one, quick, get it right now. Good work Dave and Cotie!

So, no competion you say--clearly the coolest trick in the show. But wait, there's more! David and David brought us a big wrapped gift. We opened it after dinner...and...and...wait for it...A CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN! They couldn't have brought a better gift. How excited was I? The first time I had one was at a buffet this easter at the Grand Hotel in San Diego. An entirely fancy affair one gigantic chocolate fountain where little kids and big kids like me dipped strawberry after marshmallow after banana. I just might test this puppy out during the Rose Bowl. Trojans on HD, choccy fountain of yum, and UFO S&P shakers, and our hot dog machine -- what could possibly be more fun than that?

Anyway, it was great to have them over. And great to have me cooking again. With a little practice I'll feel good about the meals myself. Besides, it's not about what you cook, but how much love you add to it. Ten years ago just having the dad over would've stressed me out, but at this ripe old age of 35, I've found that it's the company and time together that's most important. We could've ordered Chinese and still enjoyed seeing each other.

So, who wants to come over next? I dare you!

CURRENT: PASADENA
NEXT: John in Australia Jan 1 - Jan 30, 2007

Sickbed Holidays

I've had a bad cold this week. First one in a long time. Just wanted to let you know why I haven't been posting about our holidays in San Diego, however short. We spent more time in the hotel room than we did with the fam, but what little we did see of them was a treat.

The BBE is an excellent team player. But you knew that. And I was amused that he got at least two, maybe three holiday cards addressed to him as such.

We've got a week together before he leaves for the Melbourne and working the Aussie Millions.

Here's hoping I recover quickly so we can enjoy a few days properly.

CURRENT: Back in Pasadena, CA
NEXT: Nowhere that I have planned - probably another quick trip to San Diego for a normal visit once I'm well again.

Party Aftermath

You know you've got good friends when they drive more than an hour each way during holiday rush hour to come stand around at your house. Of the 30 some folks that came over, only four of them lived in Pasadena.

Thanks to my friends Leigh, Leigh, and Big Lebowski, I was able to give a few of the guests my full attention. Time passed faster than ice melting in a plastic glass of root beer, and I forgot all about taking pictures until Rafe mentioned the winner of our Roshambo contest for blogable purposes. Congrats Geoff M!

So, here are some pictures of the aftermath and some highlights from the evening. I think folks had a good time.

• John told the neighbors I walk around the house naked—a lot.
• Our bedroom will now be forever called the Root beer Room because of the keg set up in there
• Presents won: barrel of monkeys, rock-em sock-em robots, Deal or No Deal game, Magic 8 ball, Big Boy bobble head, Pass the Pigs - (you can play this online! Pass the Pigs!)
• 2 yr-old Reilly tasted chocolate for the first time thanks to the cupcake bar

• Best food donation: Don's famous chili! Man that's good. No wonder it's famous.
• Best Xmas card: Christi for the cute BxW jobbie of the little kids towing the Xmas tree (pictured)
• Most unusual thing that ended up in our fridge: roll of easy bake croissants
• Most disappointing no show: Miguel (honorable mention Justin Simon)
• Best dressed: Rafe Furst - excellent striped sweater and brown cord blazer

• Most intuitive sneaky present giver: Cotie and Dave for the salt & pepper shakers and tea towels (how'd you know we needed them!), (honorable mention to Shig for the handpicked gift basket)
• Most consumed beverage: Root Beer (who's going to drink all the beer!)
• Least consumed beverage: Egg Nog
• Earliest plane to catch the next day: Leigh and Brian (honorable mention the Mr & Mrs Savage)

• Guest who took the most food home: Leigh G (honorable mention to Shannon)
• Most helpful: Leigh G (honorable mention to Leigh W)
• Best shoes: Reilly
• Ate the most cupcakes: John C

Remains of the cupcake bar

yummy brie carcass and empty tamale serving plates.

I'll say it one more time before signing off. THANK YOU for coming over Angelenos. It was nice to have you over, catch up, and share a drink. Happy Holidays to everyone—2007 is going to be a humdinger! Good health, productivity, and prosperity to all.

CURRENT: Pasadena, CA
NEXT: San Diego (12/24-26)

Barista Me, Baby!

I'm so excited to be learning how to make coffees. Penny For Your Thoughts/Village Cafe in Pasadena is teaching me how they spin their Illy beans into Lattes, Cappuccinos and more. I couldn't be more excited.  Their Illy distributor already came in to show me how the crema is supposed to be on a single shot, and Millie is showing me how to steam the milk. That is the hard part. But it's not math, so I keep a positive attitude and know that I'll get there in not too short of a time. Besides, perfection is in the practice. This shop doesn't get a whole lot of traffic, so I'm not practicing that much, but I will be giving it my best shot every morning this week.

I told my family about this over Turkey week. There were impressed with my espresso-speak all the while John was correcting my pronunciation from Expresso to ESpresso. "Now you can work in Starbucks!" my dad said. That's the kind of big city pop up mall suburb thinking that I come from. I'm excited to learn a new skill, and I'm happy to help out my friends the week before Xmas, but this won't become a full time job unless it's in my own shop. I've already got one friend who runs that show, Scott Rao, and he's the master. This is his domain. Check out Rao's Coffees. Word on the street is he's opened a new place in Hadley, Mass.

The only non professional job that I'd like to work full time doesn't exist anymore - Kozmo.com.I LOVED being a delivery driver for Kozmo. I would work a full day doing PR for Travelers' Tales, then four nights a week I'd get in my old blue Volvo and explore the streets of San Francisco delivering videos, Ben & Jerry's, books, dvds, and more to the web savvy restless by the Bay. It was the best. Back at the warehouse I'd play cards for money with the Chinese boys. I wish I could recall the game. I think it had something to do with making 13. Anyway, if Kozmo still lived, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

There are just some jobs that give you so much pleasure you can't be bothered with worrying about what other people think. Who cares if you make $11/hour. Heck, if there's a job that you love that only makes $7/hour, do it. Life is too short to not be happy. Do what you love. Be aware of all your needs as a person (in addition to just the financial), strive for balance, and do not undervalue the emotional side of things.  And if anyone knows about a Kozmo comeback, please let me know. That will definitely help us decide where we're going to move to.

CURRENT: PASADENA
NEXT: BAY AREA