Do Not Pass Go. Do No Collect $200.

Yes, it's another edition of Classy in Philadelphia's Where in the World Wednesday. I could see how my title of this post could be slightly misleading, but have no fear. I did not go to jail. Instead I went to Atlantic city. But what does that have to do with the title of this post? Well take a look!
It's Park Place! In case you hadn't heard, all of the Monopoly properties are real streets in Atlantic city. All down the Atlantic City Boardwalk (as in Boardwalk, the other dark blue property), all signs labeling each street sign with a Monopoly sign and some random historical fact. There are actually more streets than Monopoly properties, so even those that didn't get a spot in the game still have a commemorative sign.
Which means I was also able to take a picture with California Avenue. Which I think should have made the original game. I mean it's California!

These pictures were taken almost 4 years ago now, during our college senior week. (Can we pause to talk about how crazy it is that I've almost been out of college for 4 years? How did that happen?) We had a bus drive us senior from Maryland to Atlantic City, and were hoping to have warm weather so we could lay out on the beach. But as you can kind of tell from the pictures the weather didn't quite cooperate.

If you're looking for more Where in the World Wednesday posts you can had over to Classy in Philadelphia or you can check out all of my contributions here!

~Shoshanah

The Tale of the Pulled Pork

Yesterday, I posted this picture of the pulled pork from Sunday without really explaining where it came from.
The easy answer would be to say we bought it that way. But the truth is we made it in our smoker. (And I'm using "we" in the most general sense. Moral support counts right?)

See a few months ago, we were watching an episode of Good Eats on the Food Network, where Alton Brown makes a smoker out of a trash can. Once we bought the house, the boy knew one thing he wanted to do was make one himself. The fact that the Saints were going to be in the Superbowl, produced a perfect moment for it to happen.

Alton Brown's homemade smoker was pretty simple. In the bottom of the trash can (or terra cotta pots, which we used) you place a hot plate. On top of the hot place goes a pan filled with wood chips. You put a grate over that and smoke the meat for about 10 hours at 200 degrees. Not to hard right, and all the pieces you needed were readily accessible. Except not so much...

On Wednesday night we decided to test the set-up. (Again we is used in the general sense.) And while it was working in theory, we couldn't get the smoker anywhere near to 200 degrees. After listening to the hot plate automatically click off inside the smoker and doing some research we discover the problem.

It seems all readily available hot plates are made to be "safe." Meaning that as soon as they hit the temperature where water boils (around the 200 degrees we were going for), it would turn off to cool down and then turn back on. Yes, this would help to prevent a fire, but makes it almost impossible to use in a smoker. At the rate we were going we'd need 12 hours just to get the smoker up to 200 degrees, and then top that off with 12 hours of cooking time.

The solution we found was to return the "safe" hot plate, and buy a Coleman burner powered by propane. That could fit in the smoker, and get the temperature up and keep it up. Which means we now own a working smoker. Since I know you want to see it, here is the official smoker in action.
I would have loved to have showed you all a picture of the inside of the smoker as it was assembled. Except in order to have the meat ready for the game, we had to be up at 5 to get the meat to start cooking. And this half of the we? Well, I guess you could say in this case, my sleep was a little more important than pictures. I'm sure "we" will love hearing there's something more important to me than taking pictures!

~Shoshanah

Superbowl Mambo down in New Orleans

In case you missed it yesterday, the Saints won the Superbowl. Louisiana has been going a little crazy ever since. And on top of that its Mardi Gras season, which means this year in New Orleans is really the biggest party you've ever seen.

We weren't crazy enough to spend last night in New Orleans, nor were we lucky enough to be in Miami. So instead we had a few people over for some Superbowl Sunday festivities, and treated them not only to a good football game but good food as well.

First there were pulled pork sandwiches.
This is clearly the pork pre-sandwiches and pre-pulled as well.

I made a pasta salad, for anyone who didn't want to eat a pulled pork sandwich,
as well as my first ever try at deviled eggs.
Since this was the Superbowl, we had to have chips and dips as well.
There were several desserts, including most importantly a Saints King Cake.
And since we still need a little more black and gold in this post, here's a picture of me wearing my Superbowl MVP Drew Brees jersey.
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Doesn't look like anybody now!

How do you celebrate the Superbowl? Were you as excited, that the Saints won their first ever Superbowl?

~Shoshanah

I said "Brr" it's cold in here

In an effort to save money, the boy and I are making a point to not use the heater in the new house. Although if we're being honest, this was our tactic back in the apartment as well. It worked out really well there and almost quartered our electricity bill ($20 a month anyone?). And while it'd be nice if our electricity bill is as low in the house in the apartment, realistically it will probably be a little more expensive. (Looking to the future, the goal would also be to minimize air conditioning use in the summer.)

Now even though we didn't really use the heater in either place, its been quite a bit colder in the house. Partly I'm sure because there aren't lots of other apartments connected to us. But I think another big thing going on is the floor. Back in the apartment everything was carpeted (except the obvious like the kitchen and bathrooms). Whereas here at the house, the living room is wood and the kitchen/dinning room area is tile, and those are the areas where we spend most of our time. Which means the floor stays a lot cooler here in the house.

As you would imagine, with cold floors comes cold feet. To fight this I spent most of my time in the house wearing fuzzy socks. I don't normally buy these for myself, but they seem to be a pretty popular holiday presents, so I have quite a collection of them to choose from. And the boy? Well he would love to wear fuzzy socks as well, except he doesn't have any.

The easy fix would be for him to go out and buy some, but have you ever tried buying fuzzy socks in men's sizes? Target doesn't have them. Sears didn't have them. I think the boy checked Wal-mart too for them. I guess grown men aren't a big fan of fuzzy socks? Or that cold feet are more manly? Whatever the case may be, he still wants a pair of fuzzy socks. I think it'd be a great Valentine's Day present for him, except I have no idea where to find them. If anyone has any ideas as where I might be able to find fuzzy socks for him I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Do you think we're trying for trying not to use the heater? Or is it something you'd try as well. After all, isn't that what blankets are for?

~Shoshanah

These aren't the driods you're looking for

It's kind of hard to believe I hadn't wrote about it yet, but I have a new cell phone! I guess it might have been overshadowed a little by this slightly bigger purchase, but that doesn't mean my new phone isn't exciting. Especially since my new phone is a Motorola Droid.
Which really means that I now have internet on my phone. And with internet I now have access to facebook and twitter (Follow me at ShoshanahG) and get updates whenever someone comments on my blog throughout the day.

It is so addicted. But I knew it would be, it's actually the main reason I've been hesitant to get one. I mean did I really need something I'd be addicted to. But it's here, and here to stay. There still I few apps I want to add to it, like a notepad, something you would have thought would have come on the phone. And the main reason I want at notepad on my phone is so I can jot down blog ideas and not lose them.

Speaking of the blog, I'm not quite sure I'll start mobile blogging. I just don't think my fingers are up for that. But who knows, give me a while and I might have the keyboard down like a pro.

Before I couldn't go anywhere without my phone, and now... well I'm even more addicted. I'm sure there's lots of other people out there with fancy phones. What kind do you have? And do you have any good apps you think I should try?

~Shoshanah

And the Painted Ponies Go Up and Down

It's been a while, but I'm back participating in yet another edition of Classy in Philadelphia's Where in the World Wednesday. Today's picture is another from my 3 week study abroad course in Avignon, France in Summer 2005.
The picture was taken on this double-decker carousel in the town square,
and I had ridden the carousel specifically to take the picture. It might seem like an odd reason to pay for a carousel ride in a foreign country, but not for me. See I was trying to recreate this picture which was taken some 20 years prior on the exact same carousel in Avignon in Fall 1985.
I guess you could say my looks changed a little over that time period, but the horses look the same. Funny how history tends to repeat itself sometimes. (And if you're looking to find more Where in the World posts head over to Classy in Philadelphia!)

~Shoshanah

Sookie Does Dallas

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Its been a few months since I read the first book in this series. So while I remember the characters and basic plot outline, I didn't really remember how I felt about it. Which is why its surprising to go back and reread my review of Dead Until Dark. I enjoyed this second book so much, its kind of hard to believe I didn't enjoy the first as well.

This book takes Sookie to Dallas where she's loaned to a group of vampires to help them solve a mystery, while she's still trying to solve her own mystery. It might sound complicated, but even though there were two fairly distinct stories bookended around each other it still flowed really well.

One thing I'm finding interesting about these books is how its set in modern day, instead of some type of alternate universe. Or instead of something more similar to Harry Potter, where its set in modern day, but no one knows about wizards. In these books, no one had any idea vampires existed until one day they decided to make their presence known to humans. So who knows, maybe their are actually vampires hidden around.

I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the second. I might just warn you all now, that the next review you read her will probably be another Sookie Stackhouse. I might try to change it up after that. Maybe...

Anyone else a fan of this series? Do you have a favorite book I should especially look forward to reading? Or is there I series of book you wound up enjoying, but were somewhat hesitant about after the first reading the first in the series.

~Shoshanah