Ladies' Brunch 11-2-13

So, o.k., I know I'm supposed to take pictures of the food BEFORE we tuck into it -- nope, didn't do it.

However, I can tell you what I cooked!  Quiche 1 had kernel corn and ham, quiche 2 had bacon and chopped broccoli.  There was homemade corn bread and banana bread.  (Note to self: bake it longer when you add fresh banana.)  There were cheese grits,  sausage gravy and Pillsbury Grands biscuits.  I also made sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, pot roast with mushroom gravy.  Dessert was to be triple chocolate cake.

But Naomi showed up with chocolate sticks that were so yummy, many people only ate those for dessert.  Lisa, bless her, not only brought champagne glasses, but she also brought 3 bottles of champagne!  Emily brought her Waring Belgian waffle iron -- and made fabulous waffles for us all.  Sharon brought more toppings (including gummy bears) for the waffles than I have ever seen before.  Phyllis brought apple cider.

Here's the crew.

 Left rear: Tina, Naomi.  Front: Anne and Ann (R)

Above Left: Tina, Sharon, Emily, Tomi

Left: Cynthia, Phyllis, Therese, Tina Sharon, Emily

I had a really good time and I think the others did too.  Cynthia had brought word games, but the conversation was so lively, we just enjoyed talking with each other.  And everyone helped clean up -- I didn't have to do a thing!!  Of course, after everyone left (except for Darling Emily) I fell asleep.

Then Emily and went to see "Last Vegas."  It's really good, really funny.  I highly recommend it!

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I did wear a costume to work for Halloween.

Above: Lisa (L), Tina, Sue

Above: Tina (L), Sharon

Sorry there are so many pictures of me ... but it is my blog, lol!

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Going home from work on Friday 11-1-13, this is what I saw:

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Finally, as you know, I was "in Paradise" in Palm Springs a week ago.  Below is what I came home to and it was about 40 F. instead of the 87 F. that I left in PS.  It seemed appropriate for Halloween

Today, it was in the 60's! I had the door and windows open!

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Okay, I'm going for a pot roast sandwich.  Or maybe cheese grits ...

Thursday's Chocolate Tour 10-24-13

Hard to believe it's all over -- I'm writing this on Friday.  Not only is my chocolate tour over, so is my stay in Palm Springs.  Mom and I are going to Babe's for lunch since I have an evening flight.

Yes, I actually saw the sun rise.  In these pictures, we're waiting for the tour bus in the parking lot near the Dollar Store.

 We were first of the tour.

 Sunrise behind, mountains and moon in front.

 

 

 

 After a pick up in Banning, we drove to LA and stopped at Olvera Street which celebrates Mexican heritage.  It was started by Mrs. Sterling, a single woman (husband left) who was raising her children.

 

Very old fig tree on plaza at entrance to Olvera Street

Beginning of Olvera Street.

 

 

 

First Stop: Mr. Churro's

Decorative Wall in Patio Oustide of Mr. Churro's

Skull Confections Are about 3 Inches Tall

Bench Ouside of Mr. Churro's

Mexican hot cocoa and chocolate filled churro

 

 

 

 

 

Still on Olvera Street, we went around the corner to the Mexican Heritage Museum, an unexpected treat for me. I was introduced to Siquieros, a muralist who was commissioned by merchants to make a touchy feely, welcoming mural.

 

What he came up with (detail above) did not please anyone.  In fact, they hated it so much, they white washed it and covered it up.  These pictures are of a replica, minus the vivid colors of the original.

Notice the representation of the fig tree on the left?  Not quite as inviting at the real tree above, is it?

 

 

 

Back on the bus, we got to hear how Curtis chose Mignon's as the next place to visit -- a Lakers player brought a box of Mignon's  (pronounced Min - yon) chocolates to a charity event.  Below are some boxes for a wedding or shower. 

Above are the samples (filled with chocolate ganache) that accompanied the richest hot chocolate I've ever had.  It was like drinking a candy bar, only not as thick.

 

Then, back on the bus for lunch.  We went to Tam O' Shanta, which when it was built, was on a dirt road in the 1920's.  At one end of the dirt road was the newly constructed Walt Disney Studio and it didn't have a commissary.  Walt Disney ate his lunch, often with illustrators, at the Tam O' Shanta every day.  We had their famous prime rib sandwich (others foolishly picked turkey) and dessert (of course) was an individual chocolate soufflé with whipped cream.

 

 

After lunch, we went to the Monastery of the Angels where cloistered nuns live.  I don't have many pictures, because first we went into their chapel to hear them singing their afternoon prayers.  All we saw was an altar behind a metal gate -- separating them from the world.  Their voices wafted from behind the altar.  They pray 24/7 with nuns taking shifts at nights.  They have a gift shop where they sell fudge and other goodies.  We were entitled to a free sample of fudge but I wimped out at that point and passed.  (I've never been a big fan of fudge.)

 

 

 

Then it was right into LA proper.  We got to see all kinds of people dressed up as movie characters on Hollywood and Vine.  We went to a shopping mall which is where the Academy
Awards are held.  Curt told us that they cover up the stores with red velvet so you can't tell it's a mall and the stars walk up the steps on the red carpet to go into the Dolby Theatre which holds about 3,000 people.

 

 

This area at the top of the steps is where Joan Rivers or other interviewers stand. Then, behind where I'm standing was our next stop: Sweet.

 

 

 

As you walked in, my nose was filled with sugar!

At this point, I agreed with Snoopy!

This guy was making chocolate bars.  See the flowing chocolate?  He gave us a sample.

The dog says "Chocolate Lab" and it's where the guy above was working.  I can attribute the blurriness to the glass wall, but I think I was overdosing on sugar at that point ...

They make these candies in front of you.  There are two huge TV monitors in case you can't see over the crowd.

They cut the pieces off giant tubes that they have constructed.  They use scissors to cut the candy!

These are a small sample of jelly bean flavors. On the top is a video of the jelly beans jumping into to flavors, but it's hard to see the animation from this picture.

Yup. The candy is in the toilet.

Wonder Woman has always been a family favorite.

Minnie, too, holds a special place in our hearts.

How could you not love bacon covered in chocolate?

 

O.k. it's off to Babe's now!