Mmm. I made these today, and they were way, way good. I didn't feel like skinning, toasting, and chopping hazelnuts, so I dusted them with Ghirardelli's Chocolate Hazelnut cocoa powder instead. The recipe isn't difficult, but it is time-consuming. Make them when you're willing to spend about 2 1/2 hours doing little else. The only breaks you'll get are when the truffles are in the refrigerator, and you only have to stir them every 15 minutes.
Really, though, worth the time.
I have fallen victim to the latest in marketing ploys: soda fridge packs. Used to be that I would just pick up the odd can or bottle at the grocer, but once I spotted Diet Dr. Pepper and got serious with Judy, who loves Diet Coke, I started buying these 12-can packs. Now I'm making special trips to CVS to pick them up so I have my soda pick-me-up in the morning. And it's all a game by the soda companies to get you to buy more and drink more, a trap that I've willingly fallen into.
I have recently tried both Diet Pepsi with lime and Diet Coke with lime. They're both excellent. They barely have that diety aftertaste. The Pepsi really doesn't have an aftertaste at all. Tastes pretty sweet.
I like cottage cheese. With a little fruit, it's delish. Anyone got a problem with that?
You know those little fruit cups? Don't open them when they're facing you. I do and boom! It explodes and sprays juice all over my pants.
Second tip - don't wear brown shoes with navy pants. I was pointing out what happened to my pants to a co-worker, and she fixated on the shoe-pants mismatch, completing missing the fact that my pants were saturated.
This story about a man who swallowed 100 pork buns in 12 minutes reminds me of two things. First, when I went out to dinner last night with Jennifer, I wolfed down my dish while she took a remarkably long time to eat hers. At least an hour, possibly more, and she didn't even finish it. I was tempted to comment that she was eating slowly, but didn't think that would go over too well. "Tell me, Jon," I could hear her say, "do you have a problem sitting here in the restaurant with me?" The second thing that comes to mind is that they actually televise speed eating contests on ESPN. I actually watched a few minutes of the Alka Seltzer - how fitting, right? - U.S. Championship recently. Not because the contest itself interested me but because the idea that it was actually televised with play-by-play and color commentary astounded me. The announcers were commenting on the different styles of the two contestants and how they were progressing. Eating as a spectator sport. Guess ESPN has to do something with the available air time on its many channels.
That's the advice printed on a Snapple cap. I didn't heed the advice last night only to discover halfway through the bottle that the bottle was cracked. Gulp! Fortunately, I am fine and seem to have ingested no glass accidentally. Next time I pay attention.
Drink can of Pepsi to perk up. Works great. For an hour. When I crash. Memo to self: remember this cause and effect in the future.
The claim: Real cola taste. Zero calories.
The reality: Actually, it's closer than any diet soda has ever come. It doesn't taste exactly like real Coke, but it's pretty damn good. None of the nasty diet aftertaste of Diet Coke (even Diet Coke with Splenda still tastes pretty diet-y).
P.S., I haven't forgotten about my top 100 movie quotes. I added another one this afternoon, and I intend to finish the remaining 35 off over the weekend.
