welcome to elaney!

“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.

The universe wants us to share this dip with you.  What had happened was:  a few months ago, we had this dip at a party and loved it.  Hadn’t thought about it since.  Then randomly decided to make it for a cookout last Saturday and intended to email the chef (who we don’t even know that well) for the recipe.  Then, coincidentally on Saturday morning, Reader g-love mentioned that she had been going through our cookbooks to find some dip that some different girl from Columbus (who neither of us know) made.  Lo and behold, it’s the same dip.  Then if that wasn’t random enough, Darby of Fly Through Our Window posted it Sunday, so we decided, there is someone out there that just needs this recipe (tweaked a little, per elaney):

Feta Black Bean Dip
Serves 10
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 {15 oz} cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 {15 oz} cans of Shoepeg corn, drained and rinsed
1 bunch of scallions, chopped
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 {4 oz} block feta cheese, crumbled

Whisk sugar, vinegar and oil in a large bowl. Add the black beans, corn, scallions, cilantro, and feta and mix well. Chill until serving time. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips.

We’re finishing up Restaurant Week / Things We Like in ATL (and the random Bachelorette non sequitur) with The New Deal that you need to FDR (find and download rapidly).  Scout Mob!  Have you heard?! It is like a bargain hunter (who wants to be in the know)’s dream!  Get it as an iphone app or as email alerts, Scout Mob hooks you up with great deals at cool spots that locals love.  No 20% off at Brio up in here.   See ya later 2 for 1 apps at The Palm.  Hasta La Vista free Spinach dip at Houston’s.  50% off at Carroll Street Cafe, Wasabi, Paul’s, and the Tap?!  Don’t mind if we do!

Scout Mob started in ATL and is now in NYC too.  It is awesome!  Enjoy.

All good ladies of leisure know that turning meals into verbs is one of the easiest ways to increase the appearance of your social adeptness.  You dine, you lunch, and on your fabulous weekends out, you brunch.  Brunch food es muy delicioso and hard not to do good, but that doesn’t mean some don’t do it better than others.  Our two favorite brunch spots are Highland Bakery (casual, hipster, but literally the most delicious, melt in your mouth breakfast EVER) and Murphy’s (traditional brunch fare, Highlands staple, and a great fancy brunch mimosa atmosphere).  Be ready to wait at both locales, but they are so worth it!   And yet, the list of ATL brunch spots go on and on…so we want to know, Ria’s, West Egg, what’s your pick?!

Fun day Friday fun category!  Nothing like getting a drink with Reader Melby after work on Friday.  However, for whatever reason, it’s sort of hard for us to think of different places to go for a glassa wine.  We don’t want to go somewhere that the Bert Show is doing a live broadcast (re:  Tin Lizzy’s or Fado), and we don’t want to go somewhere so chic and expensive that you feel out of place in your afterwork, mascara smudged getup (the St. Regis).  So we always end up at Treehouse.  Over and over again.  So, help us help you, and let’s hear YOUR suuggestions for after work cocktail.

Our favs (other than Treehouse):  Holman & Finch for wine / cocktails and Five Seasons for beer.  Holman & Finch has delicious apps and a cozy atmosphere.  The wine list isn’t super extensive, but there is plenty to choose from, and the wait staff knows what they are talking about.  Five Seasons is a fun brewery, sports bar-ish pick, and anything with an unstairs deck is fine by us!