welcome to elaney!

Being bargain hunters, we were a little surprised a few months ago when we noticed that our funds were a little more depleted than normal.  Had we been traveling too much?  Nope.  Any recent out of control shopping trips?  Not that we could remember.  Any late night online purchases?  Nothing other than the $36 discount subscription to Us Weekly.  What could it be?

After careful consideration, we realized that we’d slacked off on taking our lunches to work and waaaaaay too much money was going to lunches out and stops at Starbucks.

Solution:   We are brown bagging it.  And, we are making two lunches and selling the second to our co-worker ($4).  So, now that we have a new set up and a business arrangement, we need help.  What are your ideas for inexpensive, flavorful, healthy lunches?!

Almost a year after it’s October ’09 opening, we finally tried the hottest pizza place in town.  Even though Varasano’s is nearby and The Kind Pie was great (but sort of sketchily closed), we decided it was time to check out what every food writer in town is talking about.  And we have to say, (for a pizza place that doesn’t deliver) it definitely delivered!

Antico is located on a random corner on Hemphill with a view of the Ikea in the horizon, but the pizza is literally straight out of Italy.  Not only is the place completely packed, but people are yelling in Italian, opera music is blaring, and the eat-in-the-kitchen communial seating makes you feel like the hills of Tuscany (rather than Atlantic Station) are right outside your window.  The crust is just soft enough, the sauce is the right mix of sweet and savory, and all the ingredients are straight from the homeland.  They don’t take substitutions, there are no side salads, the line is atrocious, and when we told prorpietor that we had never been before, he demanded in a thick Italian accent that we try a piece right then, standing up at the counter.  This BYOB place is fun and hands (tossed) down, the best pizza in Atlanta.

“No matter what happens in the kitchen, never apologize.”  – Julia Child

As a rule, we think women apologize too much.  You reach for the door the same time as someone else, and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is “Oh, I’m sorry!”  But really, you aren’t “sorry.”  Forget whether or not you’re apologetic, “sorry” means you’re no good, lazy, and amounting to nothing.  And you are a perfectly nice human being. Don’t call yourself sorry.  Plus, ESPECIALLY in the workplace (not necessarily friendships and family relationships), sometimes it’s better to just keep your chin up and move forward.  Other people are NOT analyzing all the things you’ve done wrong as much as you are.  So the next time you cook something that takes like charcoal (literally or figuratively), smile and be gracious.  And maybe no one will notice.

There is a line in American Wife (probably the highlight of our summer reading) about how being at a community pool with kids splashing and grilled cheeses being grilled at the snack bar and Mickey Mouse ice cream bars on the 10 minute break (oops, may’ve added the last one) represents her feeling as happy as she can possibly be.  Oh!  How we can relate to the sounds and smells of summer at its most honest!  So, what else represents the childlike sensibilities of summer?  Try a popsicle from King of Pops.  Check out the cart of pops at the “corner” of North Ave. & North Highland, right across from Manual’s Tavern, Mon-Fri 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sat-Sun noon to 8 p.m (they are also at Souper Jenny and Irwin Street Market and a few other places).  Delicious, festive, and one more way to stay cool.

Recipes are often requested, and we sometimes hesitate because most of our dishes are good “Tuesday Night Dinners” rather than “Saturday Night Feasts.”  However, if you’re looking for light and healthy, we’re your girls.  This week’s Tuesday Night Dinner:

Shrimp and Avocado Salad
1 bag sweet butter lettuce (Dear Sweet Butter Lettuce, Where have you been all our life!?!  Can’t believe we only discovered you recently.  Love, elaney)
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 can black olives
1 avocado
1 onion
Feta cheese
2 – 3 new potatoes
1/2 pound – 1 pound of shrimp

Slice and mix first 6 ingredients together.  Slice new potatoes into 1/8s.  Spread a little olive oil on a pan.  Salt and pepper and sprinkle with rosemary.  Cook at 350 until soft.  Add to salad.  Toss with balsamic vinaigrette.

Sauté shrimp in garlic and olive oil.  Serve on top of salad.  Voila!

Blogging has affected our lives in many ways.  There is a long list of pretty interesting blogide effects, but most of them we’d prefer not to go into on the internet (Yes, randomly we get shy about what we put out there.  Yes, we are aware there was a week called “Dating Week.”  Yes, it was read by the real life boss.  Humiliating.)  However, one of the side effect is that we are a huge snob about people claiming news that is not news.  It’s like nails on a chalkboard to read something in which the author claims they’ve discovered something cool and interesting that everyone already knows about (it’s kind of like when old people talk about facebook – it’s like, yeah…cool…I’m familiar). 

That said, we have to tout an old favorite.  Henri’s in the a is the most wonderful bakery.  Yes, it has been on Irby and a “tradition in Atlanta for over 80 years,” but we just love the cozy bakery with it’s subtle French charm.  The food is nothing out of the ordinary, just a really good version of what you wanted (sometimes the best option).  And it’s like a dream to watch them decorate the cakes through the widow.  Someone needs to tell the Food Network about what these people can do.  Amazing! 

So, the point is, Henri’s is great.  Even if you already know about it.  It still hits the spot (kind of like their chocolate chip cookies).

“There’s gotta be something more.  There’s gotta be more than this.  I need a little less hard time; I need a little more bliss…” – Sugarland

This morning, after running with Reader Grace, we found ourselves strolling through the aisles of Publix during the 7:00 hour.  Maybe it’s because this takes us back to the days of running in the store before high school to get supplies and food for SGA meetings and the like, but we’ve always loved Publix during the 7:00 am hour.  People are in workout clothes; people are dressed for work.  Everyone is just getting ready to face the day.

So, with the aforementioned pensive mood, it was in the cereal aisle, as we reached for the 1,000th box of Strawberry Fields by Kashi of 2009, we realized…there has to be something more.  We cannot eat one more bite of Strawberry Fields with frozen blueberries.  We just can’t.  As good as Strawberry Fields and the Streamline in ’09 has been (and we’d recommend it to anyone else), we’re ready for something new.  So fair readers, two part question today…what new, healthy cereals do you recommend (and we have to have a fruit pairing.  So do include).  And what do you propose for the 2010 slogan (something with a little edge, please)??