2012 SUMMER BUCKET LIST ACTIVITY: MAKE A PIE

I did it! I made a pie! If you know me, or if you read this blog regularly, you know I'm 100% Team Cake. In the dessert face off of pie vs. cake.... Cake is the only answer. In general I don't like my fruit warm so pie just ain't my thing. So, I've only made a hand full of pies in my lifetime. But I wanted to make a pie this summer and I found a recipe that allowed me to cross this off my bucket list. It was a chocolate pudding pie which ended up being a bit of a compromise. I didn't have an peanuts in my kitchen so I nixed those and added crushed pretzels instead.




So I don't know how to cut pie properly. This is a self perpetuating thing where because I don't like pie. I don't make pie. So I never have to cut a pie. So when I do have to cut a pie it's incredibly hard for me to balance the pie on the knife and place it on a plate. Then when I do have to try I get super embarassed. Then I remember I don't even really like pie in the first place and now my attempt to change my mind has landed me in an awkward situation... Repeat cycle. With that confessed....




No I did not eat the entire pie myself. I had help. Per usual me making something in the kitchen usual means I have to create some social situation around eating said food. My friends came through for me again. Also my big brother helped b/c he let me host a social function at his swank house with surround sound and gigantic TV screen. I've already gotten ahead of myself! Let's rewind to some basics.

I made a pie that needed to be eaten. My friend had also recently posted a delicious looking beer cocktail recipe on my Facebook page. All summer I'd been wanting to have a movie night. So all these things combined in a movie night hosted at my brother's house with a few friends. Before heading to my brother's house I had to get some beer. This meant I HAD to go to the local brew pub for a growler. Since I was in the area and it was around lunch this happened:



Much later in the day I was able together with friends and not drink alone. Sometimes when I'm preparing for a food & friends activity I hum the theme song to that show the Wonder Years to myself. I think it's originally a Beatles song but we didn't listen to the Beatles in my house growing up. We listened to Motown. If you didn't notice that's not a tan nor bad lighting in my photos. I'm Black. So I just associate it with Kevin Arnold also the pilot in "Flight of the Navigator."  For dinner we had banh mi sandwiches which I love! Remember how I made my friends take the train to Brooklyn for them a few summers ago? For a drink we made the intense but tasty beer cocktail the Cocky Rooster.

2012 SUMMER BUCKET LIST ACTIVITY: TAKE A ROAD TRIP

 I talk about family a bit on here. They're super importante in my book. I love them and that's good because I recently spent 8 hrs in a car with a couple members. Although I have lived and resided in the great Mitten state for most of my life my family is technically Southern. My grandfather moved north of the Mason Dixie line as part of the Great Migration. He grew up in segregated Kentucky in a small town called Cadiz. The family reunion took place a week ago(?) and my brother and I drove my grandfather down so we could all participate.






There was also a historic Bingham hayride offered throughout the town. They stopped at the old homesteads and the graveyard. Here are some photos from that:





Whew!  It's been an amazing July/August month. I still have a few more things to do while the weather's still warm. Hopefully I can share some experiences with you.

Summer Bucket List 2012 Update!

Summer Bucket List Item: Make pitcher drinks

Done! As you know I went to Mexico a few weeks ago. I brought back some duty free tequila. A nice blanco to make margaritas with. I made a whole pitcher for a Rick Bayless cookbook inspired dinner with some friends. My brother from another mother was in town- hadn't seen him in 3 yrs- and it was good times all around. I made my broke arse strawberry margaritas and even a watermelon drink. I love a good smashed fruit drink. I love them even more when there's been an herb muddled into the mix! Smash some fruit with a nice fresh herb and add the booze of your choice= AWESEOME SUMMER DRINK!

Summer Bucket List Item: Take a family vacation

Summer Bucket List Item: Go to the beach

I was able to know off two things in one weekend! My family took a mini-vacation together! For the first time in a long time 5 generations of us got together somewhere that wasn't my PaPa's house. We rented a place in Michigan City, IN near Lake Michigan for a long weekend. I am now convinced this is the way to do things. We're already talking about doing it again next year. The weather didn't always cooperate but we all still had a great time making memories and spending quality time together. Be forewarned... the recap below can be so adorably Huxtable-esque that you may throw up in your mouth a little.

 















Another wholesome fun family activity was our own version of cupcake wars. We split up into three teams. Each team had to enter 2 cupcakes. Each cupcake had to include one "Michigan ingredient." In the made dash to plate I couldn't find my camera so once my niece sends me her instagram photo of all the entries I'll include more info.







Aren't we adorable?! I think so. I hope we can make this happen again next year! Well, summer is winding down and I still have so many things left to do. Here's hoping I can cram a few more Bucket List activities in before it's apple season.