Twice-Baked Potato Recipe

This is one of my favorite things in the world to make. It's really simple. Enjoy!

3 large baking potatoes
salt and pepper
1/2 stick of unsalted butter
3 tablespoons of sour cream
2 stalks of green onion, finely sliced
1 tablespoon adobo seasoning
1/3 cup heavy cream
1-16oz bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

This one is pretty easy. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until done. Once done baking, let them rest until close to room temperature. Next, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides. The thickness of what's left of the potatoes should be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. In a mixing bowl, take the leftover potato insides and the rest of the above ingredients and mix them all together thoroughly, leaving half the cheese for the topping. The mixture should resemble a cheesy mashed potato. This is also where you could get creative by adding things like bacon bits, diced sweet onion, ranch dressing packets, french onion soup packets, etc. The possibilities are endless. Next, you'll scoop your mashed potato mixture back into the potato shells. You then top each potato half with the rest of the shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 425 degrees until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!

My Favorite Scenes From Some of My Favorite Movies

What's up everyone? I was thinking about some of my favorite movies. I couldn't find clips of some movies, but I was able to get a bunch of them.

Elf
This is my favorite Christmas movie ever. I love it. Some of what makes Will Ferrell so amazing is his commitment to the character he's playing.


Just Friends
This scene is awesome. From the weird hug/shake thing to the flipping out in the car, this to me, is one of the funniest parts of this whole movie.


Usual suspects
This is by far one of the best endings to any movie ever.


Princess Bride
This movie is filled with great scenes. This one is my favorite. I laugh everytime I see it.


V for Vendetta
Some of the best writing I've experienced to date. This is a wonderful use of alliteration.


Wedding Crashers
I love this speech. It's just a great summary of dating. Funny stuff!!


The Shawshank Redemption
This is the scene that makes all the lows worthwhile. This is not just about liberation but hope. I love movies that focus on hope through adversity.

My Sweet and Spicy Green Beans

1 lbs. fresh green beans
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper

Once the green beans have been washed and the tips removed, you'll want to get get a pot of water boiling. Salt the water. Once the water is at a rolling boil, throw your green beans in. It only takes about one or two minutes to blanch them. You'll notice they turn bright green. When they're done, strain them in a colander. Next, heat a skillet on medium heat. Add the olive oil. Once that's slightly heated, add the red pepper flakes. As the oil heats the rest of the way, you'll notice the red pepper flakes start to bleed out, making the oil extra spicy. Now add the minced garlic. Give that about 2 to 3 stirs. Add the green beans. You'll want to salt and pepper to taste, but don't go too crazy with the salt. The green beans should continue tossing the green beans, allowing them to saute. As the green beans start to get close to the doneness that you like, add the sugar and make sure to keep stirring. You don't want let the sugar sit because it will fall to the bottom and caramelize. You want the sugar to incorporate. If it ends up too hot, my suggestion is to add a little more sugar. To get a more Asian feel, you can add sesame oil to start (along with the olive oil) and also throw in a couple of splashes of soy sauce once the green beans are in. Enjoy!!

To My Adopted Florida Family

I miss all of you. Now that I've been up north for about 4 months, it's made me realize how precious you all are to me. I'm thankful for times we shared together. I'm thankful for all the laughter even through all the tough times. I'm thankful for helping me keep my head on straight when I so badly just wanted to give up. I'm thankful for forgiving me during those times that I did stray. I'm thankful for all the free meals you blessed me with. I'm thankful for the comfort and solace during and after my grandpa's passing. I'm thankful for you sharing your lives with me. I'm thankful for showing me what true friendship consists of. I'm thankful for allowing me to not only come to but be a part of your family traditions. I wanted to let you all know how much you have meant to me over the last 7 years or so of my life. I hope that our friendships will continue to grow. I love you all very much and can't wait to see you again.

Love,
Chris

Top Ten Favorite Childhood Toys

I really must be reminiscing a lot lately...

Here is my list of the toys I used to play with as a kid.

1. Legos
This was by far my favorite toy. It was so much fun creating different things. I was also never one of those kids that used to build the things on the packages.

2. Big Wheel

What I remember most vividly about the big wheel was when you'd have ridden it too much and it ended up getting that flat side of the big tire.

3. Voltron

I remember being 5 when I received my first Voltron. It was the coolest toy in the apartment building.

4. GI Joes
The thing I remember most about these is they had interchangeable parts. We used to unscrew the backs, take them apart, and fully customize our Joes. I used to put the big muscular arms on the ninja, Snake Eyes, to make him look even more bad ass.

5. Transformers
These are still some of the coolest toys on the market. Nowadays, you virtually need some kind of engineering degree to get it to transform. Ahhh...the good ole days.

6. Teddy Ruxpin
I never actually had this toy. It was my brothers. I just remember you used to be able to put in any audio tape and his mouth would move. Teddy used to be able to get down on some "Love In An Elevator".

7. Tonka Trucks
This is the quintessential little boy's toy. I don't know many boys who didn't have one. I remember having it up until I was in high school. Was I really that big of a nostalgic dork back then as well?

8. He Man
This was one of those toys that, had it not been for the cartoon, none of us would have owned one. It was like the masculine version of a barbie doll. I'm surprised more males aren't scarred from owning this very homo-erotic action figure.

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

When these came out, I was pumped. These have got to be the most randomly named toys ever. It's as if they took a hat, filled it with a bunch of preadolescently appealing key words and just drew these four words. So random...

10. Micro Machines
The marketing team behind these little stupid toys were geniuses. All of us were completely enthralled by the Micro Machine Man. He just talked so fast. Kudos to you, Micro Machine people.

My Top 10 Favorite Viral Videos

Well, I started thinking about some of my favorite internet videos yesterday and decided to post a list of my faves. Some of these are ridiculous and I apologize for my odd sense of humor. Click the title to see the video.

1. Aicha
I don't know what possessed this guy to make this video, but thank you.

2. Completely Uncalled For
This is the greatest knock-knock joke EVER!

3. Scissors In Arm
I think this guy is secretly a ninja.

4. Laughing Baby
This kid is just plain adorable.

5. Here It Goes Again
Greatest choreographed music video EVER! (I really like capitalizing that word.)

6. The Landlord
Will Ferrell's best work to date.

7. I Feel GREAT!!
My favorite commercial of all time.

8. Kick a Monster's @$$
This little girl talks a big talk, but can she really back it up?

9. Omazing Grace
I almost feel bad posting this one...almost.

10. Extra Steering Wheel
Another great commercial.

Funny stuff

Ninja Rehearsal from Will Ferrell

My All-Purpose Marinade

So, here it is...the base marinade for a lot of Korean barbecue. Well, it's my version anyway.

1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame seed oil
1 cup water
1 tablespoon finely minced ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 green onions, green part only, cut into 1/2" ringlets
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Once all these ingredients are combined, whisk together really well. I like to marinate over night with this. This sauce is also good for wontons, eggrolls, or toss it with some noodles of your choice. If you want to concentrate the sauce, reduce it over med-low heat. If you want to give it a little kick, try adding 1 tablespoon of ground red pepper or 2 tablespoons of hot sauce. Enjoy.

10 Things I've Learned In My First 30 Years

Well, the big 3-0 is approaching and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I haven't aged that much. Here's a close up of my eye.
See, it's not that bad. Nothing a little lotion can't take care of. I feel I'm aging wonderfully.

Here is a list of some of the things I've learned in my first thirty years on this planet. I have not amassed riches or land nor have I invented the next cure for the next communicable disease. I'm really only an authority on my life and the things that have and have not worked for me.

1. Do not be afraid to try (and retry) new things. I've learned that, especially with food, sometimes something just doesn't taste right at that moment. I used to hate sauer kraut. Now, it's something I love, especially on a reuben. Trying new things not only helps you open your eyes to a whole new world, but could potentially change the way you see yourself.

2. Don't drink the water...That means don't use the ice and don't brush your teeth and anything else associated with tap water in another country. Trust me when I say, it's not worth running to the bathroom every 10 minutes because you wanted to enjoy an ice cold beverage and forgot to ask for "no ice" Plus, diarrhea has a way of ruining anybody's trip abroad.

3. Wipe good. Trust me, it'll come back to haunt you in the end. (ha ha, see what I did there with the pun...uhh...nevermind)

4. Excessive sarcasm can really be harmful to relationships. I've learned to tone it down over the years, but for a while, even amongst my closest friends, I was known as the "asshole". It's funny sometimes, but there is always a time and place for joking. Some people can't handle sarcasm. I should know, I've made people cry because of it.

5. Save money. It doesn't matter how much. $5 bucks a week, whatever. Just save it. You never know when you'll need it. There have been far too many times in my past where my car's broke down and I've had to borrow money to fix it. Had I put away just a little at a time, I wouldn't be in the mess I find myself in now.

6. Take care of your body. It's the only one you get. I wake up almost every morning feeling like I'm falling apart. I'm not even that bad off. I wish I would have started at an earlier age taking care of myself. I'm not saying be a gym rat or anything like that, but do you really need that last bowl of ice cream or bag of potato chips.

7. Anything worth having is gonna take work. This has taken me many years to learn, and I'm still learning it. Things may periodically fall magically out of the sky and into your laps, but seriously, how often does that really happen? Bust your butt to make your dreams come true. It helps to have something like faith to lean on for strength, but it's gonna take your own work to make it happen.

8. Don't mess up your credit. Pay your bills and pay them on time. And don't take on more than you can handle. I've had to learn this one the hard way. I'm constantly struggling to fix mistakes I've made financially as well as break some bad habits I have concerning my finances. Live within your means.

9. Be courteous. As I stated above, I wasn't always the nicest person. And it doesn't take a nice person to have manners. You'd be surprised how far a "thank you" and a "please" will go.

10. Don't hold grudges. I know it's tough. You want to hate that person that wronged you, but the more you dwell on it, the more power you're giving to that person. Power through it. This way, you can move on with your life. I'm not telling you to forget, just forgive. Get to a point where whatever wrong was done to you will now empower you to help someone else who may have had the same happen to them.

These are just some suggestions. As I wrote this, I started to think that this is probably the advice I would have given myself if I could have talked to an 18 year old me. Weird huh? One last thing... Each of us has a purpose, whether we know it or not. Once you have that figured out, run with it. It'll make life so much more fulfilling.

I've Done It!!

For most of you, you already know about my passion for cooking and what not. And several of you have had the opportunity to try my semi-famous wontons. Well, I've taken the first step toward marketing and selling them. Here's my logo.

Kay is my mom's nickname, considering her real first name, Kyong, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Tell me what you think. I'm gonna start with the wontons, I think, and work my way from there.

Top Ten Favorite Restaurant Pranks

1. Rooster Tail
This classic was taught to me while working at a club on the river in Cincinnati. You take about 10 to 20 drink stirrers and get them flush on one end. Next, you take a lighter and melt that particular end. It only takes a few seconds. Finally, you touch the melted end to the butt of someone you are working with. You have to do this almost immediately after melting it. Once it touches the clothing, the whole thing should stick. Once on the target, the straws should fan out causing it to look like a rooster tail.

2. The Powdered Bottom
This is a variation of the Rooster Tail. This one is also easier to pull off because you can't feel it hit you. Almost every restaurant has either flour or powdered sugar. As the target walks by, throw a little at their butt. A lot of it sticks rather easily and it is hard to notice that anything is even on you unless it is pointed out.

3. The "Missing" Keys
This one is really mean and yet oh so amazingly funny. You "borrow" someone's car keys without them knowing. You place the car keys in a pitcher or a deep pan and fill it with water. Next, place the water-filled vessel in the freezer, out of sight of the target. It's best to do this prank at the beginning of a shift in order for the water to freeze completely. At the end of the shift/night, pull the frozen keys, ice and all, out and place it in plain view of everyone to see, whether it be in the server alley or expo area. Be warned!!! This one will almost certainly piss off the target.

4. Buttered Window
This one SUCKS to try and clean up. Almost every restaurant I've worked for has had some form of liquid "butter". All you need to do for this one is squirt some on the windows of someone's car. I like the front windshield because the first instinct for most people is to run your windshield wipers with the fluid, which will only cause the butter to spread. This is another that will certainly turn the target to the Incredible Hulk.

5. The Classic Hot Water Prank
This is one prank that has been done at every restaurant I've worked at in the past. I'm sure all of you have seen one variation of this or another. You find a new server that is assigned a drink station for closing side work. When it comes time to get checked out, ask them if they emptied all the water out of the coffee machine. Because almost every coffee maker in almost every restaurant is hooked up to the main water line, this becomes a futile task. Watch with hilarity as the target continues to empty pitcher after pitcher of the coffee machine water.

6. The Left Handed Sponge/Jigger/Spatula Prank
I love to do this one to new people as well. In the middle of a rush, grab one of the new servers. You must act very frantic in order to pull this off. Tell the server that they need to run to the back and grab you a left handed jigger/sponge/spatula. Have them run back and ask the manager to grab one so you can complete their order or what not. This takes commitment from the pranker, as it will not go over if you can't sell them on the importance of said fictional item. A variation on this would be to make them get it from the basement storage closet, which is funny considering most restaurants don't have basements.

7. The Ice Prank
This one will take a little bit of patience. You need to watch a specific server to find out which pocket of their apron they are keeping their money. Now this will work even if you don't care which pocket has the money. Doing this to the money pocket just makes it all that much more awesome. Once determining the location of the money pocket, get yourself ready with atleast 2 pieces of ice, but no more than three. You don't want to make this too obvious. Now, in a mad rush during a very busy time, bump into that person. Bumping into the person should give you enough cover to slip the ice into their apron. Now you have to wait patiently as the ice melts causing all their money to become sopping wet and leaving a nice wet spot on their apron.

8. The Upside-down Glass Full of Water Prank
This one is amazing. You take a water glass, fill it to the brim with water, and put a coaster on top of it. Next you flip it over, holding the coaster on the glass so as to not let any water out. You then either place the glass, upside-down, on a server's dirty table or the bar and slide the coaster out. The water should remain in the glass until someone not bright enough to realize it, comes along and picks the glass up. Water goes everywhere. Like I said, this one is amazing.

9. Soda Gun Prank
This one is done typically behind a bar where the soda gun is most prevalent. You will have to remove the nozzle, which sometimes is a task of its own. The looser the nozzle, the better. Next ball up atleast one and a half to two cocktail napkins and insert into nozzle. Now, replace nozzle and make sure NOT to use this particular gun. This is the part where you sit back and watch as the other bartender goes to make a drink, the nozzle flies off, and soda goes EVERYWHERE.

10. The Spicy Milkshake/Virgin Daquiri
I have to preface this by saying that I was really mean at one point to servers. To pull this off, you need some ice cream, milk, and some kind of flavoring whether it be chocolate or strawberry. Now, make one regular flavored milkshake. Then make another with some form of hot sauce added to it. As you're drinking yours, offer the "extra" to a server or host. They will be overly excited until they realize that you just ruined their taste for milkshakes by offering them one laced with Tobasco. "Drink in" the look on their faces as joy turns to heartbreak and disgust.

Now, I just want to state again that I was really mean to servers at one point. That doesn't make these any less funny however. The keys to pulling off any good prank are patience and subtlety. If I've ever pulled any of these on you, feel free to comment tell me about it. And if I left any out, comment and tell me about those as well.

What I'm Listening To...

Well, I've decided to put together a list of what's on my most listened to iPod playlist. Here it is in no particular order. Click the link to hear the song. Enjoy!

Rachael Yamagata, "Reason Why"
Lauryn Hill, "To Zion"
Across the Universe Soundtrack, "I've Just Seen A Face"
John Mayer, "Gravity"
Phil Collins, "Against all Odds"
Van Morrison, "Someone Like You"
Sara Bareilles, "Gravity"
Otis Redding, "Try a Little Tenderness"
Teddy Pendergrass, "You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration"
Jonny Lang, "Breakin' Me"
The Police, "So Lonely"
James Morrison, "The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore"
Damien Rice, "Cannonball"
Adam Levine/Alicia Keys, "Wild Horses"
Paolo Nutini, "Last Request"
Amos Lee, "Arms of a Woman"
R. Kelly, "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time"
Corinne Bailey Rae, "Choux Pastry Heart"
Hellogoodbye, "Oh, It Is Love"
Ray LaMontagne, "Hold You In My Arms"
John Legend, "This Time"
Duffy, "Mercy"
Ne-Yo, "Mad"
The Shins, "New Slang"
Jason Mraz, "Love For a Child"
Norah Jones, "Don't Miss You At All"
Adele, "Make You Feel My Love"

Random Pics On My Camera

Tribute to Ansel Adams

Snow-covered backyard

From South Mountain near Phoenix

Phoenix from afar

Arizona...

From Big Mike's Wedding.

I love the color change features on my camera.

A cool pic taken by my friend Kelly.

Click on a pic to blow it up.

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Now playing: Ray Lamontagne - Hold You In My Arms
via FoxyTunes

A Love Letter

To my dearest,
I have loved you for so long now. I cannot remember a day in my past when you were not a part of my being. I yearn to relive the day I first tasted your luscious velvetiness; the initial cold sensation that overtook my heart and caused my mind to further dream of future times of oneness are hard ones to recapture. I, though, am able to recreate that sensation over and again. I am amazed at how you continue to surprise me every time I have you. There are hardly words to describe the overwhelming joy that you have brought me. This is why I write to you, my dearest Ice Cream. No lactose-intolerance could ever separate us.

Forever yours,
Me

And now...A list of my Top 10 Favorite Ice Creams

1) Homemade Brand Cookies and Cream.
There is something so wonderfully simple about this ice cream and yet so damn sinful. I had a roommate who lived all over the U.S. tell me it was the best Cookies and Cream ice cream on the market. I wholeheartedly agree.
2) Blue Bell Banana Pudding.
Who knew this particular flavor of ice cream would be this delectable? I certainly didn't. Everything one could possibly love about Grandma's banana pudding is in here. I think I just shed a tear.
3) Haagen-Dazs Toasted Coconut Sesame Brittle.
I know how strange this sounds. I felt the same way. But the combination of the toasted coconut mixed with crispy sweetness of the sesame brittle is amazing. It causes my heart to flutter.
4) Sweet Red Bean Ice Cream.
Another strange one. You can find this at most Asian specialty shops. It is something so foreign to American palates and yet I think it would go over well here. The flavor has a deep richness to it. It's also really good as a Popsicle.
5) Ben and Jerry's Everything But The...
I love this one. It has everything you could possibly need in a good ice cream. It has Heath bar chunks, white chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, and chocolate covered almonds. This ice cream reminds me of that person each of us have in our lives that try to please everyone by being everything to everybody. You know who you are...
6) Haagen-Dazs Mango Sorbet.
Look, I know it's not technically "ice cream", but hey it comes in a pint, comes from the freezer aisle, and you have to eat it with a spoon, so BACK OFF! I love mango. It's such a tropical flavor. And this particular one is great on a very hot summer day.
7) Homemade Brand Chocolate Chip.
Homemade Brand just makes some damn fine ice cream. The chips in this, I believe, are a bittersweet chocolate chip. The thing I love the most about them is they are wafer thin chips, not those big crunchy ones. It's really hard to explain. Just try it.
8) Blue Bell Pecan Pie.
Pecan pie just happens to be my favorite baked dessert. To be able to capture the buttery richness of a homemade pecan pie seems to be almost impossible. And yet, it was done beautifully here.
9) Haagen-Dazs Caramel Cone OR Ben and Jerry's Americone Dream.
These are a tie for me. The idea of eating ice cream with chocolate covered waffle pieces in it is a dream come true. I used to love waffle cones as a kid, so this brings about that love to fruition.
10) Dove Toffee and Caramel Moment.
Dove has only over the past maybe 5 years or so put out their own ice creams in pint form. This one is amazing. The thing that sets it apart from other toffee chip ice creams is the layer of chocolate ganache on top. Breaking through that initial layer of chocolate is like busting through the finish line of a race except, this isn't the end. Oh no, my friend...It is merely the beginning.
Honorable Mention: Graeter's Black Raspberry Chip, Ben and Jerry's Turtle Soup, Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake, and Publix Brand Santa's White Christmas

Hello...is it me you're looking for???

So...
This is my first attempt at a blog...
Let it sink in...
I know, I now have an online platform to bug all of you!
You really can't get rid of me. I'm like an infected, festering ingrown toenail. Nevermind. That was gross.

You're probably not wondering why I started this. To be honest, I don't know why. I was hoping to share some of my favorite things with the world...and just in case I felt the need to vent some of my frustrations. I'm hoping to have some fun though! Here we go!