Dream State Escalate: 46

I know, I haven't posted in my dream journal in almost 6 months... and it isn't that I haven't been dreaming or that they aren't noteworthy, it's more that my time feels more limited.  I haven't posted as much anywhere in my blog, as I have in years past.  Hopefully in the New Year, I'll make more time and post more frequently.  Until then, here's my dream from last night:

I owned a bakery/restaurant, called "Plated," that specialized in desserts that looked like other foods.  Our biggest seller was what we called the "Steak Plate" it featured a red velvet cake that was decorated to look like a t-bone steak (rare), a scoop of vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce (to look like mashed potatoes and gravy), and a pile of green mini M&Ms (a side of peas).  The other big ticket item were white chocolate "fried eggs."

I woke up so inspired. Now I want to get in the kitchen and start baking some Christmas confections, too bad I have to work.

Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood... Shortbread

A few years ago my dad bought me "Homecooking with Trisha Yearwood" it had been on my Amazon wishlist for awhile and I was really excited to get it.  It's beautiful and I love all the little personal tips and notes she has put into it. If I had a large enough coffee table, it would definitely be one of those books you leave out for guests to go through.  Anyway I've had it for years, but never got around to making any of the recipes, I love cook books, but typically don't use them. I don't know... weird quirk of mine I guess.

I happened to be looking through it yesterday, and saw this recipe and HAD TO MAKE it. HAD TO. I even went to the store to get the ingredients (even though most of them are staples in a baker's kitchen).  This is seriously the easiest cookie recipe I've ever made.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup self rising flour
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and spray a 9in pie pan with cooking oil (I used coconut oil, but any spray should do).
• Mix all ingredients in an electric mixer until combined.  It doesn't get smooth, it's kind of grainy looking.
• Spread mixture evenly across the pie pan
• Bake for 25 minutes
• Allow to cool, then slice and serve.

I'm thinking this would be DELICIOUS if they were dipped/drizzled in chocolate and topped with fresh berries and homemade whipped cream, just make a whole decadent dessert of out it. I haven't tried that yet, but I can't see how it could possible go wrong.

25 more facts

Close to three years ago I posted 25 random facts on this blog... and 3 years prior to that I posted 25 facts to Facebook before I was blogging. I thought it might be fun to try my hand at it again.  My first fact will update one of the facts from the last time I posted this:

1. I own ALL of the Harry Potter movies on DVDs
2. New Orleans is one of the best places I've ever visited, and I've only been there once for 7 days.
3. My Bacon Number is 3, because I met David Arquette in NOLA, he was in the Scream Movies with Neve Cambpell and she was in Wild Things with Kevin Bacon.
4. I avoid Light Beer if I can (a girl has to grow up sometimes... if it's worth drinking, it's worth the calories, if it isn't worth the calories, water will do just fine).
5. I prefer wine tasting tours to bar hopping
6. I still drive a 2005 Chevy Aveo named Tiny Tim
7. Halloween might be my favorite holiday, followed by Christmas, then my birthday.
8. I've never been zip-lining
9. I discovered I am not a fan of heights if I don't have some sort of guardrail to hold on to.
10. Currently I'm OBSESSED with Taylor Swift's 1989 album.
11. My favorite restaurant is The Palace in Santa Barbara.  Well at least my favorite one that I can get to in an hour, Jaques-Imos in New Orleans would probably be my absolute #1.
12. My biggest pet peeve is intentional ignorance. Don't play stupid with me, it will make me want to punch you in the face. 
13. Asada nachos are my favorite snack/lunch/meal... bonus if they're from Dos Carlitos in Buelton or La Picosita in Santa Maria. (bet you thought it was going to be mac and cheese... trust me it was a tough decision to make)
14. I'd rather spend a weekend in a hotel than camping
15. I'd rather be at the beach if I'm working on my tan... but I'd rather swim in a pool (no sharks).
16. Confession, I prefer my Kindle to paper books... hangs head in shame, I'm part of the problem that is causing book stores (that I LOVE) to close.  I like to go to Barnes and Noble to check out books that I'd like to download.
17. I own multiple journals... that are still blank. I buy them with the intention of writing, then don't sit down and chronicle my life.
18. I am as excited as a tweenager about the upcoming release of the Hunger Games movie Mockingjay.  I've seriously considered pre-purchasing the tickets, but so far have refrained.  I'm slightly concerned that my boyfriend thinks I'm mentally 13.
19. I'm trying very hard to fight my genetic inclination to be a hoarder. I'm going to sell/donate a minimum of 3 large (yard waste sized) garbage bags of clothes/accessories that no longer fits/is no longer my style/has been hanging in the closet so long that it is dusty.
20. In the last two years I have learned how to make a grilled cheese sandwich that I will actually eat... the trick is to cook it slow on low heat... no matter how hungry you are. Trust me slow and low, it is the tempo. The Beastie Boys wouldn't steer you wrong and neither will I.
21. Out of all the concerts I've been to over the years, the best ones have all been country music. In order of greatness (although 2 and 3 are really close):
1. Garth Brooks (hands down, no questions)
2. Gary Allan
3. Dierks Bentley
22. I'd rather spend a casual night at home with people I love than a fancy night night out with someone that I feel mediocre about.
23. It's EXTREMELY hard for me to mask my emotions... unless I'm at work, then I'm a robot.
24. My favorite hot teas are: Hot Cinnamon Sunset by Harney & Sons (caffeinated) and Stash Licorice Spice (herbal){even though I hate black licorice, I love the tea... go figure}
25. By the time I post this, my blog will have reached 20,000 hits in 3 years and less than 200 posts. That excites and humbles me. Thank you for reading. I'll try to continue to keep things interesting so that you'll want to come back