Monday, July 27, 2009

C'mon a my house, my house...

Mr. Condescending put out an interesting meme of sorts recently, and he was kind enough to ask me to play along. As usual, I'm extremely late to the game, but at least I showed. It's called:



Here are his suggestions:

I would like to know a few very important things about you, along with some photographic evidence preferably. If you were going to allow us to spend a night at YOUR home, I would like to know the following:
  1. What books are on your favorite shelf?
  2. What DVD's are on your favorite shelf?
  3. What are your TWO favorite cookbooks.
  4. Select 1-3 recipes you will cook for your special guest.
  5. What will we be drinking that is available?
My bookshelf is a study in disorganization. But it is full of things I have loved enough to save. You might notice I never give away my Stephen King books. You might also notice that I never dust it because it is usually full of framed pictures, and that I was still too lazy after taking off said pictures to bother dusting it before I took the picture. I'm just keeping it real.



The DVD's are the only ones I've cared enough to own, I guess. I have a million other VHS tapes that I never watch. I usually just rent, unless I find something dirt cheap that I feel I'm going to need to watch again. I pretty much watch nothing over and over again enough to actually buy it. I'm usually too busy on my computer to watch movies or television.



My two favorite cook books are as follows. The Joy of Cooking was my first cookbook, a gift from my father while I was still in my teens. I still consult it every time I need a basic recipe. This book changed my life. Every recipe is idiot proof, and it gave me the confidence I needed to try new things.



My second favorite cookbook was a gift from my son many Mother's Days ago. It was basically an empty binder to put my favorite recipes into as I found them. I'm constantly updating it, and always keep the card he made me to go with it in the front pocket.



Our dinner menu will probably depend upon the time of year I invite you over. Here are two alternate dinners. Both will start with this recipe for Orange garlic shrimp by Pastor Ryan on Pioneer Woman's cooking site. This stuff will knock your socks off! I could eat it every night and never get sick of it. Try it for yourself sometime, it's easy and delicious.



If it's summer, I will probably serve you a chicken breast with a lemon cilantro pesto under the skin, grilled to perfection and a heaping serving of chunky avocado salsa on the side. You might even get lucky enough to have this grilled zucchini and red onion pasta salad that I made the other night. I threw in some spinach and shrimp to make it a meal, it was sooo good.



If it's winter, you're probably going to get an herb crusted prime rib meal, complete with au jus, sauteed baby bella mushrooms, fresh mashed potatoes, and my special mashed baby carrots. This particular picture was taken at Christmas last year.



Summer or winter, spring or fall - if I'm going to serve a special dinner, it's going to be on my Haviland Springtime china.



I adore this dish set in ways that no one should love inanimate objects. Here is the story behind it. My mother had an extremely successful antique and collectibles shop around the same time I got engaged, many, many years ago. An older couple was downsizing and asked my mother to try to sell their over 50 year old dish set in her shop. I fell in love with it, and asked my mother to buy it for me at her discount as my wedding present. She bought it, paid for it, and then I broke off the engagement. She flat out told me I would need to get married or she would have to die before I got that china set. I just needed to wait her out, because when she moved to Florida 7 years ago, she gave it me rather than having to move something else. It's an almost perfect set for 12, and I look for reasons to break it out.

Last but not least, what would I serve you to drink? I think wine could be the perfect accompianment to almost any meal, but I'm not really a wine drinker any longer. Therefore, I have no idea what is good and what isn't. Back in the day, I was fond of something called Col Di Sasso, which I now realize isn't very good. But it tasted fine to my uneducated palate.



So, I'm pretty sure my standing BYOB pertains here, also. I also have generic ginger ale, and ice cold water, if you're interested. Iced coffee? Diet soda? Anyone? Bueller, Bueller?

22 comments:

jadedj said...

Shrimp anything will get this displaced Florida boy who's out here on the plain plains, to go anywhere...and of course, wine of any sort...even in a brown bag. No, especially in a brown bag.

I have a Joy of Cooking, which I still refer to, that is about 30 or so years old, at last count. Another oldie of mine is Fannie Farmer...not her...the cookbook.

Ummmmmm. Ummmmmm. Can't wait for Orange Garlic Shrimp.

Mr. Condescending said...

Wow fancy that shrimp looks unbelievably good! I want to eat that so bad, I am def gonna make that, thanks.

Hey have you ever read stephen kings "the talisman?" I read it as a kid and really liked it. I've never seen goonies so I would have to watch that if you don't mind?

Thanks for doin this, it really makes me happy to see everyones place and get an idea of them...can I come over for xmas?

Fancy Schmancy said...

Seriously, jadedj, that orange garlic shrimp recipe will make you forget whatever you were supposed to remember before you tasted it.

What were you saying?...

Fancy Schmancy said...

Mr. C- everyone is invited on Christmas, that's what we do. Also, you Have to watch the Goonies, and suspend your disbelief as a teen. My niece swears that was the best movie of her childhood. I was kinda partial to the Neverending Story, myself.

As an adult, I cannot handle SK's IT, but have read the Dark Tower series twice. Unhappy with the ending both times, but the story getting there was Amazing!

jadedj said...

Har...I forget.

Dr Zibbs said...

You're off the hook. I'm looking at the bookshelf and I don't see "The Sunshine State and You".

ShanaM said...

I am going to try that orange shrimp!!

Fancy Schmancy said...

Zibbs, I swear to God I'm NOT always Cliff Clavin!

Fancy Schmancy said...

Shana, try it! It's amazing!

Paige said...

And here I thought we had so much in common---but my favorite cookbook is a menu

mo.stoneskin said...

Oh man that shrimp. All I want is shrimp.

miSz tUna said...

Whoa, each recipe that you described made my mouth water. :)
I wonder who the lucky guest would be....

Vodka Mom said...

i have the SAME STEPHEN KING SHRINE!!

And MY joy of Cooking book is the OLD blue one. I am sending you a picture tomorrow!!!

xoxox

Girl Interrupted said...

I'm on my way over for that chicken with pesto dish, a nice cold ginger ale and to sit and watch the Goonies and Animal House! The perfect night in!

spleeness said...

omg all of this sounds delish - see you for dinner tonight! ;)

Prunella Jones said...

All that food looks absolutely divine. Yes, I will have seconds. Thank you.

Stephan King is the best! I've heard they are making a movie version of "It" and I can't wait to see it even though it will probably make me pee my pants.

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Oh Fance, that was wonderful.
You are a most gracious hostess.
Thanks

Cora said...

Ha ha ha! I love the story about the dishes! :-)

Life, Love And Lola said...

Orange Garlic Shrimp!!! YUM!!!
I live in the same zip code as Stephen King...And occasionaly see him at the grocery store.

Mr. Condescending said...

I still want that shrimp sooo bad

Raine said...

I, too, have all of my King books! - I hated the dark tower series though...

JoJo said...

Wow! Awesome!!! I wish I wasn't allergic to shrimp b/c your food stuffs look mighty tasty!!!