November 19, 2011

I can’t believe that I’ll have had Cupcake for 3 weeks now and he’s changed and grown so much in that time.  He’ll be heading to the Vet on Monday for his next round of vaccines.   I expect that he’ll get another glowing review by the vet saying he’s just perfect.

I’ve been trying to take pictures of him on a regular basis but he’s hard to photograph.  He’s a lively, jolly, little fellow and it’s hard to get him in shots without his just being a blur of fluff.

See what I mean?

But we’ve been practicing all the different commands that he should know reliably.  I think he has a fair grasp of ‘sit’ and he definitely as a handle on what ‘come’ means for him.  We’ve been practicing ‘up up’ so that I can better grasp him when he wants to be picked up.  Thursday he actually managed to climb onto the sofa by himself.  It’s more like a clinging scramble up rather than a graceful hop but, given his size, the latter will come along when it’s right.  Next we’ll be tackling the harder ones of ‘stop’ and ‘stay’.  Cupcake is wonderfully bright so I have no doubt that he will pick these up as quickly as all the rest.

Cupcake has also begun liking going on walks.  We’ve taken a daily one for the past few days and has managed to go potty outside a few times.  It’s not a regular thing but I need to discipline myself as much as him in taking him for walks at the right time for him to go to the bathroom.

My greatest fear about seeing Cupcake grow up is that I’m afraid that’ll get that ugly little underbite some shih tzus get.  I know that is it silly to worry about that one trait but I look at his handsome near teddybear-like face and I don’t want it to get ruined by ugly teeth.  His teeth have been steadily coming in and I will just continue to hope that they won’t ruin his cuteness.

I shouldn't worry too much, though... right?

 

KittyCow and Cupcake November 18, 2011

Whenever I mention Cupcake to people who have known me far longer than I’ve had him, they always ask me the same question.

How is the Cow taking it?

I have to say, the kittycow has been handling the situation far better than I ever imagined she would.  Sure, they will not be snuggling up together during naptime anytime soon.  But I do have hopes that they will become friends.  Cupcake is in playful puppy stage and the kittycow is a mature cat.  She has never been one to be playful, friendly and outgoing.

She's usually more than a little stand-offish, liking to keep her distance.

I don’t expect the KittyCow will ever change her ways and I wouldn’t want her to.  I love my Cow so very much the bitchy way she is.  It would be unfair for me to expect her to go against her nature and she truly hasn’t.  She still demands to get fed and in the times between pretends as if she’s being starved.  She sleeps all day but likes to remain close by.  The only difference now is that there’s a galloping Cupcake monster on the loose.  Every now and again they will get around to playing but it’s a rare occasion.  Cupcake has learned never to trifle with the kitty when she’s all growly and hissy.  He’ll definitely learn that he’s not the alpha in this apartment.  But I know that I could leave them in a room together without my supervision.

They keep a safe distance from each other when left to their own devices.

 

A girl with her sexy appliance November 17, 2011

While I was rhapsodizing about my vacuum and mentioning that we could not pick our kitchenaid mixer as our favorite one, I realized that maybe I hadn’t introduced you to my sexy one.

My kitchenaid artisan mixer

During the summer, in order to assist in the creation of the delicious cheesecake mousse to be served at the Stalker’s wedding, I decided I needed the power to whip up delectable delights in the way only a kitchenaid mixer can.  I scoured the internet sites near and far for the best deal for my mixer even though I was very much willing to pay full price for it.  But, months later, I cannot tell you what I paid for it because I actually cannot remember.  I do know that I got it on Overstock and I used some sort of discount codes to get the best deal.

The hardest part had truly been picking the color for my mixer.  Red was the hot color to have and understandably it was the most expensive color you could get.  Being a lover of the color green, I almost got it in the color Green Apple.  But something just drew me to the color Pistachio.  It was something about the near retro-ness of it.  It was cool, relaxing and just a lovely shade of green.  When it arrived, I remember just petting it after I managed to yank it from the box.  I didn’t use it for weeks, I believe, even though I really wanted to.  Before the wedding, I think all I used it for was to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

So, while I don’t use it all the time- I would estimate I use it maybe once every other month since I’ve had it- it’s still, by far, the sexiest appliance I have.  It’s probably the most expensive one, too.  But well worth the price.

A girl who loves salchichas November 16, 2011

In one of those deja-vu- blog feelings that I always seem to get, I thought I would have professed my love for salchichas carmelas before.  But as I searched and searched amongst the hundreds of blog entries that I have written, I realize that I just thought I had written about them but seemed never to have gotten around to it.  Or maybe my SIL blogged about them?  After all, my nephew loves them just as much, if not more, as I do.

Salchichas Carmelas bite size morsel pouch

You see, of all the things from Puerto Rico I might actually miss if my mother didn’t send me a few cans or pouches in ever care package, are salchichas carmelas.  They are a type of vienna sausages that are so much tastier and better than any such type of canned meat sausage products that I’ve ever tried.  The difference, to me, is that carmela sausages have this tastier outer skin with a plump and juicy interior.  Most vienna sausages are more like…. boiled spam in their consistency.  And while I love spam, I’m not a fan of it uncooked.

The beautiful thing of it is… and though I tried to google up an image of it, is that now carmela’s come in pouches.  Before you could only buy them in little cans where you had 7 little sausages to enjoy.  Now, aside from the bites that I pictured above, you can get a big family size pouch.  While the sausages are not the same size the pouch is the perfect size for you to make rice with them.  So, if you ever get a hold of the larger pouch then allow me to share my recipe for making a pot of rice with them

Arroz con salchicas 

serves approx. 4

• 1 family size pouch of salchichas carmelas (or about 5 cans chopped but with the juice/caldo)
• 1/2 5oz can of tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons sofrito
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• salt to taste (be mindful that the caldo from the salchichas can be rather salty, so taste first before adding salt)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups rice (I use long grain)

1. Place medium pot over med-hi heat and pour vegetable oil while it heats.
2. Stir in sofrito until it is fragrant.
3. Toss in salchichas and tomato sauce.
4. Pour in water and stir until it all comes together.  Cover and allow to come to a full boil.
5. Pour in rice and let it come to a simmering bubble, mixing.
6. Turn heat onto low and allow to cook for 20mins or until rice is fully cooked.

 Enjoy!

My arroz con salchicha

PS: Mom, if you are reading this… I am out of salchichas. Send more.  Please and thank you.

A girl thinking about plates November 15, 2011

Since I’ve been musing so much about household items, I thought I would continue the trend.  You see, ever since I bought the dinnerware set for my apartment, I’ve been having the same inner struggle.

I got this stoneware 16pc set from Target

And I absolutely love my plates.  However, with only enough for 4 sets of service, I do know that I should buy at least another set.  Here’s the question…

Should I buy another set just like it?

Or should I get a complementary solid color set?

And, if it’s the latter… which color?

My mother says red but I would love it to be that pale sort of sage color.  I’m honestly leaning towards the solid color idea but I’m not sure if I can find similar material plates in the same size and all but in the color that I want.  If that’s the case, should I still get the solid color ones and not worry about the material being stoneware, too?

These are the sorts of things that keep me up at night.