Thanksgiving

The kitchen was a mess! lol

Just for fun......

New Couch

We are finally moved into our new house in Phoenix Arizona. It has really been a trial. Our kitchen is still not usable, no power to our dryer and we are still living out of boxes mostly. One positive thing happened today though, we finally found a couch. Sitting on folding metal chairs was getting tiring! So here are some pics for you all. It's a great mid-century design. And although I'm not a flower guy, the print is so bold, I don't mind them!

Easy Cooking For Your Date!!!

Being of Spanish/Puerto Rican decent, I grew up with food constantly being cooked. Growing up, people always hung out in the kitchen. It was the the heart of the house. And there was always something so comforting about the food. I've taken all the knowledge I gained, by watching my family cook, and have applied those skills to many dates.

Nothing is more attractive than a man that can cook! So here is one of the recipes I've used. It's for Stewed Eggplant. A lot of people get scared to cook eggplant, but it's really not that hard. And best of all, your date will be impressed! Just pair this dish with some baguette, cooked chorizo or shrimp and a nice bottle of Spanish red wine, I prefer a nice Tempranillo.

Stewed Eggplant

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant
5 tbsp olive oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
4 ripe tomatoes, cut into quarters
3 garlic cloves, crushed with a knife
6 tbsp red wine (you could just use the wine you're going to serve)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
salt and ground black pepper
extra chopped parsley for garnishing

Directions:

1) Cut the eggplant into 1/2 inch thick round slices. Rinse in a colander and sprinkle with 2 tsp salt. Let them sit in the colander for about 30min.
2) Rinse the eggplant again and drain all the water. Then pat them dry with a paper towel to help remove any excess moisture.
3) In a large pan, heat about 2 tbsp of the oil. Place a single layer of the eggplant in the pan and fry. Turn periodically until golden brown. Then place them on a plate with a paper towel to absorb the oil. Repeat this with all the eggplant.
4) Heat another 2 - 3 tbsp of the oil in the pan. Add the shallots and garlic. Cook for about 6 minutes, until golden. While that cooks, cut the cooked eggplant into strips.
5) Stir in the eggplant with tomatoes and wine. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes
6) Stir in the parsley and taste for the seasoning. Add extra salt or pepper as needed.
7) Serve in a nice dish and top with some fresh chopped parsley.

***This dish can be served cold too. Just sprinkle some olive oil on top before serving.***

And one last thing. Don't worry too much about how you chop things. The point of this dish is the flavors, not how well you could use a knife. If it tastes good, your date will not care how well you chopped!

Friends Forever!!!

I remember when I first heard this song performed on Saved By The Bell. That's right, I am going way back down memory lane for this one. I was surfing around youtube and stumbled on it. It's still a pretty rad song. Hope you all enjoy it!!!

Would A Cylon Use A Touch, Nano or Shuffle???

I came across this shirt recently and was really impressed. Everyone who knows me, knows how much I loved the new Battlestar Galactica series. It was a great show and it really explored the nature of humanity while throwing in kick-ass stories and effects.

I don't normally go around wearing t-shirts with big prints on them, but this one is just way too rad to pass up. It's a Cylon listening to an iPod!!! It doesn't get much better than that! Could you imagine them patrolling the streets of Caprica, listening to an iPod? Then you got to wonder which iPod they would prefer.

Personally, I have a nano. But I'm not a Cylon....... or am I????

You can pick up one of these rad shirts at NerdyDuckling

SO SAY WE ALL!!!

What To Wear On A Coffee Date: Module #1 - Southern California

I was recently asked by a friend, to help him get ready for a coffee date. This was a first date situation so he wanted to impress. I love the guy, he's a good bro, but he lacks any sense of style.

So this got me thinking. If he's having trouble figuring out what to wear, there must be other guys out there struggling too.

When we got down to it, he had all the basics in his closet already. Most guys do. It's just knowing how to pair things and not over do it.

Geography can play a huge role in fashion. Having lived on both coasts, I know first hand that a New York wardrobe won't quite fit in Los Angeles and vice versa.

For the southern California look, I chose items that most guys out here will already have on hand. It's all about comfort out here. You want your look to appear relaxed and effortless, while still looking polished.

Pairing basic pieces with the right accessories is key. So take a look, soak it in and start thinking about what's in your closet.

1) T-Shirt - Billabong - $20, 2) Ring - Fantasy Jewelry box - $59.95, 3) Bracelet - Fantasy Jewelry Box - $39.95, 4) Belt - Republic - $33.91, 5) Jeans - RSQ Amsterdam - $44.99, 6) Necklace - Jean Paul Gaultier - $48, 7) Hat - Henley's - $25.42, 8) Watch - Nixon - $79.99, 9) Boxer Briefs - G-Star - $28.83, 10) Sandals - ALDO - $31.98