Have you heard about this new show on FX, American Horror Story. Here is my one word review.... NO.
I was intrigued by this show for several reasons....
Reason 1 - created by Ryan Murphy (the guy behind Glee) Hey, I love Glee - maybe I will like this too! NO
It stars two of of my all time favorites!!! Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton!!! ? Come on, The Practice and Friday Night Lights are two of my ALL time favorites? There is no way it can be bad with these two, right? NO
It also stars the great Jessica Lange (LOVED her in Grey Gardens) and Francis Conroy (mom from Six Feet Under!!!) I love these two, I bet I will like this show!! NO
In the words of my two favorite movie critics......
HAAAAAAAAAAATED IT! It is scary and not good scary, WEIRD scary and it's pretty vulgar. Tammy Taylor says the P word - EW! Oh no you didn't.... That's a two snaps out and off the season's pass. xo, Brie
As promised here is the pizza dough recipe - I really hope you'll try it out sometime because it is SO easy, SO inexpensive, and SO good!
For ingredients all you need is
2 and 3/4 cup flour
1 cup warm water
1 packet of active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
1 tsp of kosher salt
2 tbsp of olive oil
First up fill up your measuring cup with very warm (but not hot) water and dissolve your yeast in it - give it a gentle stir to immerse the yeast and walk away.
Come back 5 minutes or so and you'll see the yeast is starting to foam up (you want this)
Combine all 5 ingredients in a bowl and work into a ball with a fork. I'm sure a kitchen aid mixer would be fabulous for this type of mixing but since I've broken not one... but TWO of these so I've learned to live without one. For this recipe, you really and truly don't need one. Just kind of mix it into a ball with your fork, remove from the bowl and kneed it with your hands on a lightly floured counter for about 10 minutes. I never quite make it to the full 10 minutes and usually throw in the towel around the 6 minute mark. It's always worked out fine.
You will now have a very soft pliable non sticky ball of dough. Spray a new clean bowl with some Pam and cover with some plastic wrap or a dish towel and set it somewhere out of the way to rise.
It can sit there all day and will be just fine!
she's at again with the faces....
When you are ready to make pizza take your dough out - I don't bother with the rekneeding process or anything.... spray a cookie sheet and you can either 1.) spread the dough right out over the cookie sheet to make one big pizza or 2.) score it equal parts for a make your own individual pizza kind of party. This dough can stretch to make 1 full pan pizza or 5 good sized individual pizzas but tonight we're are meeting out some friends for dinner so I am scoring this in 4 parts for the kids.
really, she can't seem to help herself
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread out to make your individual pizzas. This dough is so easy to work with, not sticky at all. I usually bake them like this for about 7 minutes to get them going.
Pull them out and let them cool a smidge b/c the pans will be hot. Top with whichever toppings you like and have on hand. Lower oven temp to 375 degrees and bake for another 10 minutes or so (eyeball it)
Delicious homemade pizza for everyone!! Mangia ;) xo, Brie
PS Final Season of Big Love premiers tonight!!! Can't wait....
WHERE IS KEVIN AND WHY IS HE NOT ON ALL-STARS?!?!?!?!?!?!!??! (yes, I'm yelling) He must have declined, right? He was a shoe in to be on the show. I'm sad :( xo, Brie
I am only slightly ashamed to tell you this is the ONLY season of Housewives I've never seen.... don't judge, I love sewing to mindless reality tv that doesn't require my complete attention.
NBC is running the season from episode 1 daily during their soap operas spot (for NJ it's 2 pm but check your local listings)
I can't wait to see Lauri PRE marriage to mega baller George and working for Vicki and would love to learn more about this stranger Kimberly Bryant who pops up every now and then on the OC finales. This season also includes more background on housewife 7 Slade Smiley who plays a pretty big supporting role. The years have been kinder to some and harsher to others.
More Housewife gossip on one of my favorite new blogs to read Absurd to Sublime!
Of all the late night type of shows, Jimmy is by FAR my favorite. I tivo him everynight (he's on way past my bedtime at 12:30) and I fold clothes to him daily. I really think he is making me a more productive person and for that, I thank you Jimmy! xo, Brie
I'm at a loss.... let's just say I didn't hate it but I expected a LOT more. Was it me, or were there 2000 more commercials than normal? I stayed up way past my bedtime and am left feeling a little hollow and tired. xo, Brie
PS only 2,000,000 questions left unanswered - like where is Walt?
We were recently commissioned by my very favorite Daisy troop to make 25 headbands as year end gifts for the girls. We played up the blue to match the daisy vests and how could we resist this perfect daisy print? I think they came out really cute and I hope the girls like them :)
I finished them up last night as I cheered on my very favorite team on the Amazing Race! Can you guess who it is?
Have you ever seen this show? I am still on season 1 (available on demand at Netflix!!) but I have to tell you I am beyond hooked. One of the best shows - ever! You'll laugh, you'll cry, it's better than Cats. Way better than Cats actually ;) Have a great w/e! xo, Brie
Glee's diva-off was crazy delicious - one of the singers is a boy! Unreal... wish I had the real video footage but for now enjoy the audio of 2 incredible talents. xo, Brie
Bad blogger alert... I have been trying to settle back into a real life routine of having the kids back in school and managing all that comes with that like homework, oodles of contact paper (which I loathe working with), making sure they have clean clothes to wear, snacks for school, back to school nights, and writing checks galore. Yes, it's the flouncy flounce, glamorous life! It's all hard work for me and takes quite a bit of concentration.
In the meantime I have been watching tv like a lunatic... here's my latest obsessions
So what are you watching these days? Don't be Tardy for the Party :) xo, Brie
but none the less hilarious. If you can hang in there to minute 2:20 you will see for yourself. I love Best Week Ever on VH1! Always delivers the funny. xo, Brie
We had a lovely little taste of Spring this past w/e in northern NJ with temps in the low 50's!! It was so beautiful out, you could smell Spring in the distance. Today, not so much. Freezing, snowing (not accumulating) I am so cold and lazy I am wearing my Gramma Gert coat sweater and unable to move. The Gramma Gert coat sweater is handmade by my late grandmother and is really the original snuggie. Please tell me you've seen this infomercial (I'll post it and a hilarious spoof of it at the end) I love this sweater so much. There are 3 very decided states for me to be in to bust out this sweater.
sick
hungover
freezing
Today, I'm freezing.... once this magical sweater is on, you are so toasty and warm and any kind of real work is suddenly out of the question! If I weren't so vain, I'd have somebody snap my picture in this - maybe later! Truly, truly, truly one of my most treasured possessions! xo, Brie
The REAL infomercial
and a priceless parody (with bad language so be careful if there are kids around)
I have been in all my splendor with the new tv that has been on! Check out all these goodies...
American Idol - you know I'm front and center each night it's on. It's fun to watch with the kids although I am totally ready to get the show on the road. Enough with the auditions! I can handle Hollywood week which is coming soon thank goodness! The new judge isn't really leaving me a good nor bad impression, she's just "there". Randy is still my favorite. His inappropriate laughing is infectious! My favorite bad audition by far is bearded guy singing a droll "Walking on Sunshine" which I've been doing a lot around the house. Always a crowd pleaser!
Real World Brooklyn - How is it that I am approaching 40 and still watch this show? It's one of life's great mysteries if you ask me. I have been with this show since it's first season and I still call it the pioneer in the reality shows. The cast is pretty good this season, but even if they weren't I have a feeling I'd still watch it.
Real Housewives of OC - Can't look away from this show and NYC is back in Feb. Jeana's sons are seriously the RUDEST boys, they should be ashamed of themselves they way treat her. Still not caring for Tamra either!
Top Chef - Can't get enough! I think I am routing for Jamie or Stefan. Haven't seen last night's episode yet. I kind of like crazy Carla too :)
Lost - love, love, love Lost! It doesn't frustrate me like it does some b/c I look at like a great movie I don't want to end. If you have never seen this show, I command you to sign up for Netflix and get the previous seasons. It's awesome and you're really missing out on good stuff!
The Office and 30 Rock - 2 words... so funny
Big Love - only show on HBO I am watching regularly. I think Chloe Sevigny is SO good on this show.
Rescue Me - on FX is another favorite - I recommend this on Netflix too! New season starts in March and I can't wait!! Dennis Leary is really good!
60 Minutes - ok not really (although I do like the show) but needed to bump up this list intellectually :)
As you can see I am pretty booked in the tv world but would love to hear your "not to be missed" line up! I'll leave with this...... enjoy (and ps that is not me laughing in the background - I pulled it off youtube)!
Oh how I loved the picture page segment of Captain Kangaroo. I was quite jealous that I couldn't play along b/c I never actually had the picture pages and I longed for the cool beepy pen! Did anyone actually have the picture pages? I'm guessing no :) You Tube is the greatest! xo, Brie
