Pumpkin Pie Challenge for “Friendsgiving”

Some friends and us had decided it would be cool to get together and do a “friends giving” since well, one friend is American and would be away over thanksgiving (not that we celebrate it in South Africa) and she wanted to show us what it was all about. Cool, we went with it. We all had things we were in charge of. My main thing was dessert.

I was given the task of pumpkin pie. Who eats veggies for dessert??
I looked up some recipes on the web and watched some videos, fused two recipes together which made the most sense. Here’s what I got:

Buy pumpkin (or butternut???!) steam it, mush it, purée it, add condensed milk, add a whole load of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, ground ginger, all spice) and salt, eggs, mix together, make the pastry, finger the pastry over the bowl, pour it on the pastry, shove into oven and chill out for close to an hour catching up on YouTube subscriptions.

The proof is in the {pictures} pudding, right?

I’ll have you know, my American friend Sydney said, “mm that’s pretty spot on, yeah, this is really good!”

Meanwhile, I was still trying to understand the strange sweet/spicy-ness that was confusing my brain. Regardless, that pie was sliced into many pieces and there are only 2 or 3 slices left- it seems like it was a favorite for some.

Poodle said, “I don’t not like it. It tasted interesting. I would eat it again. My baby’s the best.”

Guest Blog: Sunday Fun-Day

It’s the other Mrs. Poodle again, Sheree!

On Thursday night, after an already exhausting week, I slept for only 1.5 hours. I made it up on Friday and through the entire day at work. I got home pretty late, after being re-routed from the highway due to an accident and then getting lost, to Mrs. Poodle waiting for us to go shopping. Damn. Late again for the second Friday in a row. She was happy I was home though, and we decided to get some take out and watch series so that I could get a much needed early night. The food was delicious, the series was good, and the sleep after was oh so lovely.

I was intending on sleeping until at least 10am (I mean let’s face it, I was catching up), but of course the Mrs. was up at 7am. I heard her but decided to keep sleeping. I had to turn around at some point as one does and I opened my eyes to see what she was up to. She smiled all excitedly, because I was awake. This then happened…

Me: Leave me alone, I want to sleep (ya, I lose all my charm when I’m tired)

Nicole: You look awake

Me: You look irritating!

Nicole then laughed until she cried and it was too cute so I had to wake up. Luckily she made me a delicious breakfast without me even having to ask. Best. girlfriend. ever. She was lovely throughout the day and we went on missions to visit her grand mothers.

Today has been Sunday fun day. She didn’t seem so into it while it was happening. She’s a strawberry so we all know what that means. BUT. We ate at Tasha’s, she loves Tasha’s, I think it’s over priced and for grannies. Anyhow, today I had a delicious lunch there. A chicken snitzel sarmie on a baguette. Delicious.

We then went on a surprise shopping trip. The Mrs. was shocked and complained she hadn’t prepared herself for this. I got black pants for work, and the Mrs. found two hot tops at Cotton On and sandals. I also managed to get her to try on a really cute dress, but she pulled her “I’m not keen” face and alas the dress became another dress we didn’t end up buying. I guess I will have to keep dreaming about the day my beauty wears a dress for no reason. I’m also glad she got sandals, but I’m not convinced as to whether these will be worn. You see, Mrs. Poodle likes to wear one pair of shoes at a time. Until they die. So, currently she is killing the grey Vans. So I doubt whether these new ones will get worn. She kept commenting that they didn’t feel like her other sandals… she’s silly. I mean OBVIOUSLY, they’re different shoes. She’s such a cutie.

We’re now sitting on our bed with the aircon blazing. Woah, it’s so hot today. She’s investigating artificial grass for the courtyard (again, I’m unconvinced) and I’m sipping my wine before I start reading a book I just bought. It’s about leadership. Who ever thought I would read a book about that. I happen to think I’m a naturally born leader but hopefully the book has some pearls of wisdom which I can implement. I’m open to trying new approaches, so let’s see what happens!

And if you’ve ever wondered, there is dog friendly artificial grass. She’s just told me… So that you can clean the poop. She REALLY wants a puppy.

She wants to measure the courtyard now. I have to go help. I love Sundays, almost as much as I love my Mrs. She is looking so beautiful today… maybe she’ll let me put up the picture of her in the dress. She rolled her eyes now that I asked… and she is looking at it first… drumroll… she said YES.

Isn’t she looking beautiful today? Look at her “I’m not keen” face…

 

 

 

 

 

I know; I don’t know

I’m really glad that it’s Friday, after having worked 12 days in a row. I love my job but I also love having some down time to just do whatever I’d like. Tomorrow I am attending a course all day long, so the poodle will have to occupy herself. Oh I long for Sunday. I also long for something delicious and full of sugar. And carbs. I’ll take fifty French pastries. Joke. I won’t, I would get sick. Also, the poodle would say that it was unacceptable and irresponsible, just like hiccuping. She’s a funny one. Can anyone tell me the answer to this question: how is it almost the middle of September, already??? I don’t even know. What I do know, though, is that since our “healthy” eating which was official from Monday, I have lost 2kgs. I don’t care about the kgs so much as I care about how tight my pants were getting. Imagine squatting fifty times a day with tight pants. No no, not cool. So I am happily melting away the winter warmer fat layer, and I’m hoping that summer time will welcome me and my pale legs. I never used to have such pale legs. I don’t know why my ‘Greek’ genes aren’t helping me out here. It seems like I don’t know very much at this time of the afternoon.
We finished watching all 60 episodes of Masterchef Australia 2014 and the mrs weeped (not literally) about how we don’t have anything to watch now. Well, that she likes. Any suggestions? We’re (I’m) excited for the start of the Big Bang theory on Monday.
Oh and I must tell you- I think I have an allergy to rye- my ears/lobes swelled up and were all red and hot and it is so horrid having swollen ear lobes. We will have to see if it happens again!

My haircut thumbs-up

Yesterday it was time for another haircut. Let’s recap what happened on the previous occasion: I had grown my hair for around 3/4 months so that I would be able to create a style more effectively once cut. Anyway, the hairdresser made a mistake and cut it all wrong and I may have cried.

This time, I got a different lady (the one who does mrs poodle’s hair) and she was great. She understood everything and did it perfectly. Mrs poodle sat in the background showing me thumbs-ups in the mirror. Here’s the result:

I’m really happy! Last night I cooked a yummy dinner for mrs and our guy friend toots (SB). I never call him toots, ever. That’s the mrs’ thing. Anyway, we went to bed around the usual time and the mrs is still napping away (going on 13 hours if sleep over here!) I am being quiet until she “wakes up naturally”. Later today, my sweet tooth will be excited by a high afternoon tea at the One and Only, Cape Town- where we’ll be ‘double-dating’ with 2 guy friends.

Also, can we just quickly GASP- it is literally 2 weeks until SPRING! Winter has come and gone without hesitation. It has been truly beautiful weather. When the mrs eventually wakes, I will rope her into a walk.

Cheshire Cat

Thursday evening, my dear poodle became a cat. A smiley Cheshire Cat. We were lazy and grabbed some steers for dinner, which we ate while watching Masterchef. She kept looking over at me with this huge grin, filled with all kinds of love. She did this about fifty times and each time I thought to myself, “aaaaaaw she’s the cutest!” meanwhile she was most likely thinking to herself, “this food is so good!”

Fast forward to the weekend: we only really had Sunday to hang out because I was at a course the whole of (Friday) and Saturday. We saw a movie (Blended- Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore)… Look, I love those two actors, but I really felt the whole “Africa” bit was weird and super stereotypical. Seriously, African people do not hang about and sing in chorus. Yes, when there is an occasion there is some singing, but really, not in general daily life. I have never been to SUN CITY (why go there when I live in Cape Town) but- the movie really could have channeled a better aspect of daily life “in Africa”. Anyway, the rest of the movie was pretty sweet and Mrs Poodle may have cried and I totally may have teared up. The popcorn, tumbles and slushie were delicious. Have any of you seen the movie? What did you think?

Today is rainy and by all appearances looks like perfect weather for food and snuggles – BUT it is not. Tonight we’ll be going to the gym. (We go to separate gyms)- I’ll be swimming away my time while Poodle sweats away her time.

Let’s look at the current count-down: 15 days until we are away for a 4 day long weekend! (Can I get a yay?!)

 

Welcome to July!

Welcome to July, everyone!

Mrs. Poodle and I have been trying to operate “project health”- which really appears to be a project. Anyway, we are eating properly with no sugary or carb-y snacks and are trying to kick- start the process to which we can hopefully soon say, “my pants are lose again!” – the joys of winter, I tell you! Winter is like a code sentence for, “come here fat, come stick to me, expand me, make me only want to wear comfy pajamas”. Winter is so mean. The weather thus far has been really pleasant though. At night we’re warm because hello, body heat, and in the day my hospital temperature is regulated which means I don’t have to wear long sleeves.

We went to a comedy night on Friday- it was very funny! Mrs. Sheree Poodle laughed and laughed and laughed the loudest out of everyone. I love her laugh – it also makes me laugh- because it is so loud and happy. We had cocktails through the show- she ordered cosmopolitans and I ordered this pineapple and ginger martini which appeared to have no alcohol at all. It tasted pretty good.

I just found myself distracted and I went through my cellphone videos- they’re of my dog, and of Sheree at random intervals. I had a good chuckle.

Sunday we spent hanging out after doing grocery shopping. We had to have breakfast because we were so hungry- so we had huge muffins and then a big cooked breakfast- she has a breakfast burrito and I had scrambled eggs, bacon, tomatoes and toast. Hanging out is simply the best.

Last night Sheree got home around 17h45 and I made a snack and she said we can eat at 7h30. She later told me it was 7h30 and that I should make dinner- which I did. We ate, cleaned, made lunch for the next day and went upstairs. The time was only 7h30. She read the time wrong. So we had what felt like endless hours before bed- on a week night! A true miracle!

Tonight appears to be even more of a miracle- all done before 7pm.

Maybe we’re ready for babies. Ha!

Guest Blog: I’m writing under duress!

I’m not impressed with being forced to write this blog, sigh! I convinced Mrs. Poodle to pack our lunch for tomorrow because I was working. She only started now as I said I’m going upstairs and now she’s forcing me to write. ALSO – that cup of coffee was disgusting – not sure if it was the water or the coffee but eeeewy.

Mrs. Poodle has been a grump this week because she started work and is sad to wake up in the mornings. Her hatred of mornings resulted in her even forgetting our monthly anniversary. Usually I never remember anyway but you know she had to be VERY grumpy to not even say anything about it. She carried on being grumpy last night, and is still grumpy now. I think it’s because she wants to eat a steak. She’s been talking about a steak for a few days and last night I declined a dinner invitation from her which I’m sure didn’t help the grump situation.

She’s waving her bun (our new word for bum) at me. Speaking of buns, we seem to have gained several kgs between us since the start of February. Look, it’s June so it was over 5 months so we’re not too concerned, and we’ve had a lot of change: moving cities, stopping smoking (that was me), 2 new jobs, so we’re being easy on ourselves about it. And anyway, now that you’ve seen a picture of us you must agree Mrs. Poodle is such a beauty. As am I, obviously.

Despite this, our new health plan starts on Monday, and we’re pretty excited about it.

FREEDOM IS COMING TOMORROW! And first up tomorrow night is date night (we haven’t had one in ages), so I’m going to take Mrs. Poodle for that juicy steak she’s been craving & I will have lots of wine (since project health excludes the bottle… SIGH). She’s still not finished the lunch. Oh shit… it’s my cleaning night, or ours (but truth is Mrs. Poodle doesn’t clean).. gotsta run (mafia speak for goodbye.. you heard right? Mrs. Poodle is a ghetto fabulous..